What does Jamila mean?
'Beautiful,' from Arabic jamil(a); widely used in Swahili-speaking Muslim communities. Feminine; the masculine form is Jamil.
What does Sanaa mean?
Sanaa means “work of art” or “brilliance” in Swahili.
Jamila vs Sanaa
Which is more popular?
Sanaa is more popular than Jamila today: about 89 US babies were given the name Sanaa in 2025, compared with 0 named Jamila.
| Jamila | Sanaa | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Beautiful | Work of art |
| Origin | swahili | Swahili |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | jah-MEE-lah | sah-NAH |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 1977 (418) | 2006 (482) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 89 |
| Trend | Vintage | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Jamila
Sanaa
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Jamila | Sanaa |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 755 | 601 |
| 2010s | 1,074 | 2,202 |
| 2000s | 930 | 3,178 |
| 1990s | 1,834 | 104 |
| 1980s | 1,887 | 56 |
| 1970s | 1,781 | 5 |
| 1960s | 61 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jamila or Sanaa more popular?
Sanaa is more popular than Jamila today: about 89 US babies were given the name Sanaa in 2025, compared with 0 named Jamila.
What is the difference between Jamila and Sanaa?
Jamila means Beautiful (swahili origin), while Sanaa means Work of art (Swahili origin).
Which name is older, Jamila or Sanaa?
In US records, Jamila first appears in 0 and Sanaa in 1977, so Jamila has the longer recorded history.