Rising since 1986, #2,998 for girls today.
Popularity of Uma since 1961
Babies named Uma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Uma's real moment was 2023.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 41 |
| 1990s | 170 |
| 2000s | 559 |
| 2010s | 681 |
| 2020s | 404 |
Meaning & origin
Uma first appeared in U.S. naming records in 1961 but remained rare for decades. Its trajectory shifted upward beginning in 1986, and by 2025 it ranked 2998th nationally, with a peak year of 2023. The name is most common in New York and California. Its Sanskrit origin and association with the goddess Parvati give it both spiritual depth and cross-cultural appeal. While still uncommon, the steady rise in usage since the mid-1980s suggests growing familiarity, partly due to actress Uma Thurman. The name offers a concise, melodic alternative to longer Indian names like Umaima or Ooma.
Uma is a Sanskrit name meaning 'light' or 'splendor,' and in Hindu tradition it is a name for the goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva. The name appears in ancient scriptures such as the Upanishads and the Mahabharata. It gained international recognition in the West largely through actress Uma Thurman.
Where Uma is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Uma” around the world
Where Uma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Ooma, Umaima
Sibling names for Uma
Names that share Uma's style, for a brother or sister.
