Shima

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHEE-mah

Meaning: my mother; mother

In 30 seconds: Shima is the Navajo (Diné) word shimá, meaning 'my mother' — a term of the deepest familial endearment in Diné Bizaad, reflecting the matrilineal heart of Navajo culture.

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Origin Navajo, Native American

Meaningmy mother; mother

U.S. rank (2011)#19160 ↘ Falling

2011 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 111

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

Shimá is the Navajo (Diné Bizaad) first-person possessive form of the word for mother, meaning 'my mother.' In Navajo grammar, the prefix shi- marks the first person: shimá (my mother), nimá (your mother), nihimá (our mother). This grammatical intimacy makes Shimá not merely a kinship term but a deeply personal utterance of connection. Navajo culture is matrilineal — clan identity and inheritance flow through the mother's line — making shimá one of the most culturally weighted words in the language. Shimá yázhí (little mother) refers to a mother's younger sister, extending the concept of 'mother' across the family. As a name, Shima honors the maternal bond at the center of Diné life.

Did you know? In Navajo grammar, possessives are built into the word: shimá = my mother, nimá = your mother, nihimá = our mother — a system that embeds relationship into language itself.

Quora — Navajo language explanation — Shimá means "my mother." Nimá is "your mother." Nihimá is "our mother" — confirmed by Navajo speaker.Northern Arizona University — Navajo Cultural-Based Healing — Shimá yázhí (little mother — mother's youngest sister); terms of endearment powerful in Navajo grief and healing.

Variations

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If you like Shima…

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Doli— Navajo girl's name meaning bluebird, another cherished Diné name for girls

Frequently Asked

What does Shima mean?

Shimá is the Navajo (Diné) word for 'my mother' — a first-person possessive form where shi- means my and má means mother. It is a deeply intimate term in Diné Bizaad.

How do you pronounce Shima?

SHEE-mah. Two syllables with stress on the first. The accent mark in shimá shows the rising tone of the second syllable.

Why does Navajo grammar put 'my' into the word?

Navajo is a polysynthetic language that builds possessives into nouns. Shimá (my mother), nimá (your mother), and nihimá (our mother) are all distinct forms, embedding relationship into the word itself.

Is Shima connected to Navajo culture?

Yes. Navajo (Diné) culture is matrilineal — clan identity passes through the mother — making shimá one of the most culturally significant words in the language.