Total births
631
Girls' name · since 1924
Ma
Ma has 631 recorded births since 1924 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1990 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 631
- total births
- 1924–2018
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
Ma sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 631 recorded since 1924.
Social Security Administration records show Ma recorded 631 times among girls since 1924, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1924 to 2018.
- 631 total births
- 1924–2018 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 34% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
631 girls have been named Ma since 1924, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2018.
- 631
- total births
- 1924–2018
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Ma was born in this single decade.
1990
Single peak year
31 babies were named Ma in 1990 - its busiest year on record.
Ma's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ma's SSA record in two at 1985 and the more recent half accounts for 67% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 33%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1935, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1990 peak of 31, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ma at a glance
Last recorded 2018Peak year
1990
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1924
Ma popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1924–2018
- Peak year (1990)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 95 years of records
Ma by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Ma's strongest decade.
217 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Ma births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 22
1920s
22 births
- 1930s 18
1930s
18 births
- 1940s 6
1940s
6 births
- 1950s 31
1950s
31 births
- 1960s 33
1960s
33 births
- 1970s 40
1970s
40 births
- 1980s
1980s
125 births
- 1990s
1990s
217 births
- 2000s
2000s
113 births
- 2010s 26
2010s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 217 births (34% of all-time use).
How Ma compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Ma's total volume
Ma vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Ma by state
Where Ma concentrates geographically, total births since 1924
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 75 | 11.9% |
| #2 | California | | 73 | 11.6% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.8% |
Texas share of Ma's total US births 11.9%
Even split
75 of 631 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ma? ▼
631 babies have been named Ma since 1924. It was last recorded in 2018. The peak year was 1990 with 31 births.
When was Ma most popular? ▼
Ma was most popular in the 1990s decade with 217 total births. The single peak year was 1990.
Where is Ma most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ma are Texas (75 births), California (73 births), Illinois (5 births).
How long has the name Ma been used? ▼
Ma has been recorded in Social Security data since 1924, spanning 95 years of data through 2018.
What names are similar to Ma? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mary, Margaret, Maria, Martha, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Ma's data
- Ma's decade-level peak was the 1990s (217 total births); usage has since declined to 26 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Mas (75 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ma
Nearby Names Like Ma
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ma
Mary Girl
#131 4,141,481 births
Margaret Girl
#119 1,264,774 births
Maria Girl
#74 566,111 births
Martha Girl
#666 551,741 births
Marie Girl
#632 540,077 births
Compare Ma side by side: Ma vs Mary Ma vs Margaret Ma vs Maria
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1924–2018 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ma: Baby Name Since 1924 - 631 Births, Peak 1990." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ma. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ma draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.