UK girl's name
Jamelia
A feminine given name of English origin meaning "to be beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jamelia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Jamelia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 39 births.
This profile covers 259 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. 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 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 258 living people in the UK are called Jamelia. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jamelia ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 39 girls were registered as Jamelia.
- • About 258 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jamelia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
39 births
Estimated living
258
2026
Meaning
What does Jamelia mean?
The name Jamelia has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have derived from the word "jamil," which means "beautiful" or "handsome." This name has been in use for centuries and can be traced back to the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD.
In the Arab world, the name Jamelia was often given to newborn girls, signifying the parents' wish for their daughter to possess beauty, both inner and outer. The name gained popularity across the Middle East and North Africa, and over time, it spread to other regions as well.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jamelia can be found in historical texts from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast territory spanning parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe from the 8th to the 13th century. During this period, the name was associated with elegance and grace.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Jamelia. One such individual was Jamelia bint Al-Hudhali, a renowned Arabic poet who lived in the 7th century AD. Her poetry, which focused on themes of love and longing, has been preserved and studied by scholars over the centuries.
Another prominent figure was Jamelia Al-Andalusia, a 10th-century scholar and philosopher from the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). She made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 12th century, Jamelia Al-Baghdadi was a celebrated Persian calligrapher and artist whose works adorned the walls of mosques and palaces across the region. Her intricate calligraphic designs and illustrations were highly sought after and are considered masterpieces of Islamic art.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Jamelia Oman was a pioneering Omani educator and social reformer. She established one of the first schools for girls in the region, advocating for women's education and empowerment.
More recently, in the 20th century, Jamelia Mukhtar was a Syrian-born author and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social justice. Her writings and speeches drew attention to the challenges faced by women in the Arab world and inspired many to fight for equality and freedom.
While the name Jamelia has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world, reflecting its enduring appeal and the universal desire for beauty and grace.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jamelia over time
The chart below shows babies named Jamelia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jamelia, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 39 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jamelia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jamelia 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 | #5190 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3323 | 75 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1628 | 167 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jamelia
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Jamelia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jamelia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Jamelia was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jamelia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 39 babies registered as Jamelia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jamelia?
A feminine given name of English origin meaning "to be beautiful".
How many people are called Jamelia in the UK?
A total of 259 babies have been registered as Jamelia across the 25 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.