NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Jama

Feminine name of Arabic origin, meaning "sum total" or "gathering".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Jama is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jama popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 4 births.

This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2003 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 22 living people in the UK are called Jama. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Jama ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 4 boys were registered as Jama.
  • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jama as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3990

2021

Births in 2021

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

4 births

Estimated living

22

2026

Meaning

What does Jama mean?

The name Jama has its roots in the Arabic language, originating from the word "jama'a," which means "to gather" or "to unite." It is believed to have emerged during the early centuries of Islam, when the religion was spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.

In its earliest form, Jama was likely a descriptive name given to individuals who possessed a talent for bringing people together or fostering a sense of community. As the Islamic faith expanded, the name may have been adopted by those who played a role in uniting different tribes or groups under the banner of Islam.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jama can be traced back to the 8th century CE, when a prominent Muslim scholar and jurist named Jama al-Din al-Quduri lived in Baghdad, Iraq. Al-Quduri was renowned for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on the Hanafi school of thought.

Throughout the medieval period, several notable figures bore the name Jama. In the 12th century, Jama al-Din al-Isfahani was a celebrated Persian poet and scholar who authored works on literature, philosophy, and mysticism. His poetry often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.

In the 13th century, Jama al-Din al-Akhnai was a highly influential Sufi mystic and theologian from Iran. His teachings on the unity of existence and the divine nature of reality had a profound impact on Islamic mysticism and philosophy.

Moving forward to the 15th century, Jama al-Din al-Afghani was a renowned political activist and philosopher who played a pivotal role in the Islamic modernist movement. He advocated for reforms within the Muslim world and encouraged a revival of Islamic political thought and unity.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Jama al-Din al-Husayni was a prominent Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader. He served as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and played a significant role in the Palestinian national movement during the British Mandate period in the early to mid-1900s.

While the name Jama has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has also been adopted by various other communities around the world, reflecting the rich diversity and interconnectedness of human societies throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jama over time

The chart below shows babies named Jama registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jama, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Jama
01234200320122021

Decades

Jama by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jama was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3990 4 1
2010s #4678 3 1
2000s #3522 15 4

Related

Names similar to Jama

FAQ

Jama: questions and answers

How popular is the name Jama in the UK right now?

In 2021, Jama was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Jama most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 4 babies registered as Jama in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jama?

Feminine name of Arabic origin, meaning "sum total" or "gathering".

How many people are called Jama in the UK?

A total of 22 babies have been registered as Jama across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.