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Name Lineage

    The first name Sami

    A unisex name from Arabic meaning “high”, “exalted”.

    2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Arabic origin

    Sami means “high”, “exalted” in Arabic.

    Derived from Arabic سَامِي (sāmī), from the informal pronunciation of سَامٍ (sāmin, “high, exalted”).

    Sami is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 168 boys were named Sami, making it the 271st most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 178 births (#263).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    3,838
    babies named Sami, 1996–2025
    #271
    rank in 2025
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Sami with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Sami at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 193 boys born in the United States were named Sami, the 1,114th most popular boys’ name that year.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    6,727
    babies named Sami since 1880
    #1,114
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Sami in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    سَامِي
    sāmī
    Arabic

    Spelled Sami in Turkish too.

    Famous people named Sami

    41 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Sami Khedira
      German association football player, born 1987
    • Sami Hyypiä
      Finnish footballer and manager, born 1973
    • Sami Frashëri
      Albanian writer, philosopher, playwright and activist (1850–1904)
    • Sami Al-Jaber
      Former Saudi Arabian footballer and manager, born 1972
    • Sami Vänskä
      Finnish musician, born 1976
    • Sami Al-Najei
      Association football player, born 1997
    • Sami Jauhojärvi
      Finnish cross-country skier, born 1981
    • Sami Gayle
      American child actress, born 1996
    • Sami Lepistö
      Finnish ice hockey player, born 1984
    • Sami Bouajila
      French actor, born 1966
    • Sami Frey
      French actor, born 1937
    • Sami al-Henaaui
      Coup leader and the leader of the military junta (1898-1950)

    More Arabic unisex names

    All 218 names of Arabic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Sami mean?
    Sami means “high”, “exalted” in Arabic.
    What is the origin of the name Sami?
    Derived from Arabic سَامِي (sāmī), from the informal pronunciation of سَامٍ (sāmin, “high, exalted”).
    How popular is the name Sami?
    In 2025, 168 boys born in England and Wales were named Sami, ranking 271st. Its peak was 2010, with 178 births.
    Is Sami a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 6,727 US babies named Sami since 1880, 21% were girls and 79% boys.
    When was Sami most popular?
    2025 in the United States, when 193 babies were named Sami, its highest rank at 1,114th.
    Is Sami also a surname?
    Yes. Sami is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.