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Noma
How to Pronounce Noma
Pronounced NOH-muh /ˈnoʊ.mə/High
Meaning: Noma is most plausibly a clipped form of Naoma, an old spelling of Naomi, from Hebrew for 'pleasantness, sweetness.' Some families may also have used it as a simple sound-name. On the Naomi reading it inherits that gentle Hebrew meaning.Low
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
Noma is an early-twentieth-century American name whose most likely source is Naoma, an old spelling of Naomi, from Hebrew for 'pleasantness' or 'sweetness.' Trimmed to two soft beats, it joined the many short vowel-names families favored around 1900. Its origin is not certain, so the Naomi link is offered as the best-supported reading rather than a settled fact.
The name crested near 1916 and stayed uncommon, borne by roughly a couple of thousand girls before it faded by the 1970s. A Noma named at the peak would be past a hundred today, a great-grandmother-era name. It has not revived and reads as a genuine antique.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Noma mean?
Noma is most likely a short form of Naoma, a spelling of Naomi, Hebrew for 'pleasantness'; the origin is not fully certain.
How do you pronounce Noma?
It's said NOH-muh /ˈnoʊ.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Noma a boy or girl name?
Noma is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Noma?
Noma was an uncommon vintage name that crested in the nineteen-teens and has been rare since.