Holding steady.
Popularity of Noma since 1886
Babies named Noma per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 21 |
| 1890s | 58 |
| 1900s | 147 |
| 1910s | 393 |
| 1920s | 461 |
| 1930s | 403 |
| 1940s | 216 |
| 1950s | 153 |
| 1960s | 38 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Noma is a rare American name that appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in the late 19th century. First recorded in 1886, it saw its peak usage in 1912, during the 1910s decade. Its trajectory has been stable but low, and it has not been among the top 1000 names since the 1950s. The name's origins remain obscure; it may be a diminutive of the Hindu name Nomita or an Anglicized form of Naima. Its brief period of modest popularity in the early 1900s aligns with the era's fondness for short, feminine names like Nora and Mona. Although never common, Noma has persisted as a rare but continuously used name.
The origin of Noma is unclear. It may have arisen as a diminutive of longer names such as Nomita (a Hindu name) or as a variant of the Arabic name Naima, meaning 'blessing' or 'tranquil'. In Japanese, 'noma' can mean 'field' or 'open land', but the name's American usage is likely independent of that. It saw modest use in the United States in the early 20th century, with a peak in 1912, possibly as a creative spelling or nickname.
Sibling names for Noma
Names that share Noma's style, for a brother or sister.
