Fama as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Fama

What is the meaning of the name Fama ?

The baby name Fama is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Spanish: /ˈfama/ (FAH-ma); English: /ˈfeɪmə/ (FAY-mə) or /ˈfɑːmə/ (FAH-mə).

Fama is Latin in Origin.

Fama carries two distinct lineages. From Latin fāma, it means “report, reputation, renown,” personified in Rome as the winged goddess of rumor. This classical sense prompted occasional use as a feminine given name during Renaissance and later revivalist periods in Europe. In that tradition, Fama suggests fame, repute, and public voice.

In West Africa, especially within Mande languages such as Bambara, Maninka, and Dyula, faama/fama denotes “king” or “chief,” once a royal title borne by rulers like the Segou monarch Faama Da Monzon. The honorific later became a given name, typically masculine but sometimes unisex. Variants include Faama and Fâma; a related mythic counterpart is Greek Pheme. Contemporary use is rare in the West but familiar in Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sahelian diasporas. Across both origins, the name signals leadership and renown.