Jama
Meaning of Jama
Jama is a unisex given name with roots in the Arabic term jumu’ah, meaning “Friday assembly” or “congregation,” and it has traditionally served in Somali culture to name children born on Friday, while in English-language contexts it appeals broadly across genders. Pronounced JAH-muh, it has appeared in U.S. birth records since at least 1918, typically accounting for five to fifty annual registrations and ranking between approximately 590 and 940 in popularity. This steady yet modest presence suggests an appeal to parents drawn to its blend of cultural resonance and communal connotation, differentiated from mainstream naming trends. Though it has never climbed into the upper tiers, its modest numbers may be precisely the point for parents keen to avoid runaway trends.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as JAH-muh (/ˈdʒɑmə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Jama
| Jama Williamson is an American actress known for her work in New York City theater and off-Broadway musicals. |
| Jama Musse Jama is a Somali ethnomathematician and author known for his research on traditional board games like Shax. |
| Jama Mahlalela is a Swazi-Canadian basketball coach and Toronto Raptors assistant who previously coached Raptors 905 and the Golden State Warriors. |
| Jama kaNdaba was a Zulu king who ruled from 1763 to 1781 and is said to have foretold the birth of King Shaka. |
| Jama Ahmed Mohamed is a Somali politician appointed Minister of Energy and Water in January 2014. |
