A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Jamila since 1962
Babies named Jamila per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 61 |
| 1970s | 1,781 |
| 1980s | 1,887 |
| 1990s | 1,834 |
| 2000s | 930 |
| 2010s | 1,074 |
| 2020s | 755 |
Meaning & origin
Jamila entered U.S. naming records in 1962 and peaked in popularity during 1977, when it ranked #791. After declining in subsequent decades, the name has shown a rising trajectory since 2010, suggesting renewed interest. As of 2025, approximately 1 in 13,174 girls receive this name, placing it at rank 1,684. The name is most common in Michigan, Illinois, and New York. Its Arabic root meaning 'beautiful' gives it a straightforward, positive appeal, and the name's use across diverse communities reflects its cross-cultural resonance.
Jamila is the feminine form of the Arabic name Jamil, derived from the root j-m-l meaning 'to be beautiful.' The name has been used across the Arabic-speaking world for centuries and gained some popularity in the United States from the 1960s onward.
Where Jamila is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jamila” around the world
Where Jamila lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jami, Mila, Jem
Sibling names for Jamila
Names that share Jamila's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Aisha, Layla, Zara, Nadia, Fatima, Latifah, Naima, Rasheeda, Sharika, Takiyah, Zakiyah, Dalal, Jamera, Jamesia, Kameelah, Lateefah, Latifa, Maleka, Malikah, Naeemah, Rakiya, Rasheda, Rasheedah, Sakinah, Shakirah, Tahirah, Asjah, Jalila, Jamilex, Kadeja, Kareemah, Khalilah, Naeema, Nafeesa, Nafeesah, Naziyah, Rashidah, Saidah, Sakeena, Sakeenah, Salimah, Shakeela, Shekia, Zawadi, Fareedah, Haneefah, Hikma, Jerlisa, Kalima, Kalimah, Lateefa, Rasheema, Saleemah, Shavonta, Tauheedah
Brothers: Jamal, Hassan, Khalid, Omar, Amir, Nasir, Raheem, Rashad, Rahsaan, Rakim, Rasheed, Shakur, Bashir, Husam, Jalal, Jamill, Kaseem, Latif, Rahiem, Assad, Braheem, Halim, Karriem, Tabari, Jameek, Malike, Qaadir, Rashied, Reshad
