UK name, mostly girls
Saman
An Arabic masculine name meaning "high position" or "heavenly".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 52 boys.
Saman is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Saman popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 15 births.
This profile covers 138 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 137 living people in the UK are called Saman. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Saman ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 15 girls were registered as Saman.
- • Saman is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 137 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saman as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.6% of Saman registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
15 births
Estimated living
137
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Saman
In England and Wales birth records, Saman has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.4% of registrations are for boys and 72.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Saman registered for boys
- Ranked #3,412 in 2018
- 5 boys registered in 2018
- Peak: 2003 (6 births)
Saman registered for girls
- Ranked #5,669 in 2022
- 3 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2000 (15 births)
Meaning
What does Saman mean?
The name Saman has its roots in various ancient cultures and languages. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "samana," meaning "equal" or "balanced." This connection can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent and the early days of Hinduism and Buddhism.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Saman can be found in the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism. In the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts, the term "saman" is used to refer to specific melodies or chants used in Vedic rituals. This suggests that the name may have been associated with religious practices and spiritual traditions in ancient India.
The name also has connections to the Persian language and culture. In Persian, the word "saman" means "belongings" or "possessions." This could indicate that the name may have been given to individuals who were considered valuable or treasured within their communities.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Saman. One of the earliest recorded figures was Saman Khuda, a renowned Persian poet who lived in the 11th century AD. His poetic works were highly influential in the development of Persian literature and are still studied and appreciated today.
Another significant figure was Saman Gunanidhi, a Buddhist scholar and teacher who lived in the 5th century AD in India. He was known for his deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy and his contributions to the preservation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings.
In the Islamic world, Saman al-Muhammadi was a prominent scholar and jurist who lived in the 9th century AD. He was highly respected for his knowledge of Islamic law and his contributions to the development of legal scholarship within the Islamic tradition.
During the Middle Ages, Saman ibn Ibrahim al-Muhallabi was a notable Arabic poet and literary figure who lived in the 10th century AD. His poetic works were widely acclaimed and celebrated for their eloquence and depth of emotion.
In more recent times, Saman Kunan was a Thai Navy SEAL who tragically lost his life during the rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team from the Tham Luang cave in 2018. His sacrifice and bravery in the face of adversity made him a national hero in Thailand.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Saman. While its origins and meanings may vary across cultures and languages, the name has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the tapestry of human civilization.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saman over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Saman in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Saman, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saman by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saman was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5669 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4612 | 27 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2414 | 86 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2700 | 22 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Saman
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Saman: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saman in the UK right now?
In 2022, Saman was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Saman most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 15 babies registered as Saman in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saman?
An Arabic masculine name meaning "high position" or "heavenly".
How many people are called Saman in the UK?
A total of 138 babies have been registered as Saman across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.