Mama

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAH-muh /ˈmɑ.mə/High

Meaning: Mama is, plainly, the word for 'mother' — one of the near-universal nursery words, formed from the easiest sounds a baby makes and found in a great many unrelated languages. As a given name it is a word-name, and we state that plainly rather than construct an etymology for it.Medium

In 30 seconds: It is the word itself: Mama means 'mother' (said 'MAH-muh'). We state that plainly — it is a word-name, not an inherited one.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningMama is, plainly, the word for 'mother' — one of the near-universal nursery words, formed from the easiest sounds a baby makes and found in a great many unrelated languages. As a given name it is a word-name, and we state that plainly rather than construct an etymology for it.

U.S. rank (2024)#14563 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 60

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

Mama is the ordinary word for 'mother' in English and in a great many other languages — a nursery word that recurs worldwide because of how babies first learn to speak. Used as a given name it is exactly that word, and we say so plainly rather than invent a history for it (said 'MAH-muh').

It appears only very rarely as a given name in the U.S. Plain, warm, and unusual.

Did you know? Mama appears in language after language, related and unrelated, because it is built from the simplest sounds an infant makes. It is less a name than the first word most people ever say.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Mama — Word-name: the ordinary word for 'mother'; stated plainly, no invented etymology

Variations

MamiMamieMaman

Nicknames

MaeMim

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Mama…

Mae— a like short, warm classic

Mila— a like soft two-beat pick

Nana— a like doubled-syllable word-name

Maren— a like gentle Ma- opening

Explore names like Mama

By themeword-name rare

By meaningGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mama mean?

Mama is simply the word for 'mother' — a nursery word found in many languages. It is a word-name, which we state plainly.

How do you pronounce Mama?

It's said MAH-muh /ˈmɑ.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Mama a boy or girl name?

Mama is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Mama?

Mama is exceedingly rare as a given name in the U.S.