Jamal

♂ Boy

Pronounced juh-MAL /dʒəˈmɑːl/High

Meaning: Beauty; handsome; from Arabic jamal (beauty, grace, handsomeness)High

In 30 seconds: An Arabic name simply meaning 'beauty' or 'handsome,' from jamal (beauty, grace). Widely used across the Arab world and in African American communities, Jamal embodies the directness of an aspirational meaning.

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Origin HighArabic

MeaningBeauty; handsome; from Arabic jamal (beauty, grace, handsomeness)

U.S. rank (2025)#1197 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births169 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1993

Total births (all-time)≈ 33,232

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

Jamal derives from Arabic jamal (beauty, grace, handsomeness). The same root gives Jamila (the feminine 'beautiful'), Jameel, and the English word 'animal' through a completely unrelated Latin path. Jamal has been used in Muslim communities for centuries.

Jamal ranked #1183 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Jamali (beauty-related) names are among the most common in Arabic naming — Jamal, Jamila (feminine), Jameel, and Jumana all share the same j-m-l root, making beauty one of the most productive naming roots in Arabic.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Jamal — Arabic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JamaalJameel

Nicknames

JamMal

Famous Bearers

★Jamal Khashoggi (1958–2018)
Saudi Arabian journalist and Washington Post columnist whose murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 became an international incident.

If you like Jamal…

Kareem— Arabic name meaning generous/noble in the same Islamic tradition

Malik— Arabic name meaning king/owner in the same naming tradition

Jamaal— another Arabic name

Bilal— another Arabic name

Faisal— shares Jamal's Arabic roots

Explore names like Jamal

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By meaningGrace Beauty

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jamal mean?

Jamal means 'beauty' or 'handsome,' from Arabic jamal (beauty, grace).

How do you pronounce Jamal?

It's said juh-MAL — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Jamal a boy or girl name?

Jamal is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Jamal?

Jamal ranked #1183 for U.S. boys in 2024.