Rising since 1986, #2,368 for girls today.
Popularity of Mariama since 1971
Babies named Mariama per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 116 |
| 1980s | 75 |
| 1990s | 374 |
| 2000s | 634 |
| 2010s | 598 |
| 2020s | 380 |
Meaning & origin
Mariama, a variation of Maryam, has been a consistent presence in the United States since it first entered the Social Security records in 1971. The name reached its peak popularity in 2024, ranking 2368 with 1 in 21,148 girls receiving it in 2025. Its trajectory shows a steady rise since 1986, reflecting growing interest in names with West African and Arabic roots. The name is most common in New York, Minnesota, and Ohio, states with significant communities of West African diaspora. In the 2020s, Mariama remains a distinctive choice that honors both cultural heritage and religious tradition, appealing to families seeking a name with deep historical and spiritual resonance.
Mariama is a West African variant of Maryam, the Arabic form of Mary, which itself derives from the Hebrew Miryam. The name has been widely used in Muslim communities across West Africa, particularly in countries like Senegal, Mali, and Guinea. It has seen increased usage in the United States since the 1970s, often among families with African or Islamic heritage.
Where Mariama is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mariama” around the world
Where Mariama lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
220
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mari, Mama, Ria
Sibling names for Mariama
Names that share Mariama's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Aminata, Fatoumata, Kadiatou, Aissatou, Maimouna, Awa, Binta, Bintou, Fatou, Oumou, Coumba, Fatimata, Fatmata, Fatumata, Isatou, Marieme, Ndeye, Ramatoulaye, Salimata, Seynabou, Sokhna, Isatu, Ramata, Astou, Khady, Rokhaya, Salimatou
Brothers: Abdoulaye, Mamadou, Ibrahim, Souleymane, Amadou, Abdoul, Boubacar, Cheikh, Diallo, Ibrahima, Mahamadou, Mouhamadou, Thierno, Toure, Ebrima, Elhadji, Jawara, Lamin, Ousmane, Serigne, Abdoulie, Ahmadou, Alassane, Alieu, Alioune, Babacar, Bakary, Daouda, Fallou, Kinte, Momodou, Pape, Saliou, Seydina, Seydou
