Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Jamila
GirlArabic, Swahili· “beautiful”
- Meaning
- beautiful
- Origin
- Arabic, Swahili
- Pronunciation
- juh-MEE-luh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,686
- US babies 2025
- 122
- Best rank
- #468 (1977)
- Peak year
- 1977
Meaning and origin of Jamila
Jamila is an Arabic and Swahili name that means “beautiful”.
Jamila is an Arabic name meaning beautiful, the feminine form of Jamil. It is used throughout the Arabic-speaking world and has also been adopted in Swahili-speaking East Africa and in the United States. The name has a soft, flowing sound with stress on the middle syllable. Jamilah and Djamila are related spellings. Mila and Jami are sweet nicknames. Jamila has a classic, graceful character, and its meaning makes it a timeless choice across cultures, languages and generations.
Popularity over time
Jamila first appears in US Social Security records in 1962. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 21 different years, starting in 1974. Its best national rank was #468 in 1977, the same year it reached its highest count of 418 babies. In 2025, 122 babies were named Jamila, and it ranked #1,686 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #736 in 1980, #1,624 in 2000, #2,501 in 2010, and #1,686 in 2025. Of the 8,322 US girls named Jamila since records began, 23% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,834 babies. Since 2010, 1,829 more have been named Jamila.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Chanda, Cristy, Maricela, Cori, and Tomeka.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jamila ranked highest in Michigan, Illinois, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | #1010 | 7 |
| Illinois | #1059 | 8 |
| New York | #1114 | 13 |
| North Carolina | #1194 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | #1494 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Jamila is usually pronounced juh-MEE-luh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with J and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Jamila
A few middle names that flow with Jamila: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jamila
Similar names
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kuh-MEE-luh
“perfect, complete” · Arabic
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ih-MAH-nee
“faith” · Swahili
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PA-muh-luh
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Mariela Girl
mah-ree-EH-luh
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Fabiola Girl
fah-bee-OH-luh
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Halima Girl
hah-LEE-muh
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Malaika Girl
mah-LY-kuh
“angel” · Swahili
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Nicola Unisex
NIK-uh-luh
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uh-ZEE-zuh
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Mirella Girl
mih-REL-uh
“admirable, or variant of Mireille” · Italian
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Ursula Girl
UR-suh-luh
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Angela Girl
AN-juh-luh
“angel, messenger” · Latin
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Lists that include Jamila
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jamila mean?
Jamila is an Arabic and Swahili name that means “beautiful”.
What is the origin of the name Jamila?
Jamila has Arabic and Swahili roots. Jamila is an Arabic name meaning beautiful, the feminine form of Jamil.
Is Jamila a popular name?
Not especially. Jamila ranked #1,686 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Jamila a boy or girl name?
Jamila is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Jamila?
Jamila is usually pronounced juh-MEE-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings