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