Neema

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEE-mah /ˈni.mɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Swahili neema, 'grace, prosperity, blessing' (from Arabic ni'ma, 'blessing')Medium

In 30 seconds: A blessing, named: Neema is Swahili for 'grace, prosperity, blessing'. Warm, uplifting, and grateful.

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Origin MediumSwahili, Arabic

MeaningFrom Swahili neema, 'grace, prosperity, blessing' (from Arabic ni'ma, 'blessing')

U.S. rank (2025)#4523 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births31 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 784

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

Neema comes from Swahili neema, 'grace, prosperity, blessing' (from Arabic ni'ma, 'blessing, favor'). A warm, uplifting name across East Africa, it celebrates a child as a gift.

In the U.S. it appears in East African families. Rare, blessing at the root, and grateful.

Did you know? Neema means 'grace, prosperity, blessing' in Swahili — from Arabic ni'ma; it's a warm, grateful name across East Africa.

Overall data confidence 80%

Swahili references — neema — etymology

Variations

NemaNiema

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Neema Iyer
Ugandan human rights lawyer and technology policy advocate
★Neema Lugangira
Tanzanian politician and Member of Parliament

If you like Neema…

Imani— a fellow Swahili virtue-name

Zuri— a companion Swahili name

Amani— another Swahili-rooted name

Sama— lands in the same popularity range

Asma— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Neema mean?

Neema is Swahili for 'grace, prosperity, blessing'.

How do you pronounce Neema?

It's said NEE-mah /ˈni.mɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Neema a boy or girl name?

Neema is a girl's name.

How popular is Neema?

Neema is a rare name in the U.S.