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Basma
♀ Girl
Pronounced BAHS-mah /ˈbɑs.mɑ/Medium
Meaning: From Arabic basma, 'a smile'Medium
In 30 seconds: A smile: Basma is Arabic for 'a smile'. Crisp, warm, and cheerful (said 'BAHS-mah').
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningFrom Arabic basma, 'a smile'
U.S. rank (2025)#6888 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 466
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Basma comes from Arabic basma, 'a smile' (from the root b-s-m, 'to smile'). A crisp, warm, cheerful name across the Arab world (said 'BAHS-mah'; nickname Bassi).
In the U.S. it appears in Arab and Muslim families. Rare, a-smile at the root, and cheerful.
Did you know? Basma means 'a smile' in Arabic — a crisp, warm, cheerful name (said 'BAHS-mah').
Overall data confidence 65%
References — Basma — Arabic etymology
Variations
BasmahBasima
Nicknames
Bassi
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Basma mean?
Basma is Arabic for 'a smile'.
How do you pronounce Basma?
It's said BAHS-mah /ˈbɑs.mɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Basma a boy or girl name?
Basma is a girl's name.
How popular is Basma?
Basma is a rare name in the U.S.