NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Samarah

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "evening conversationalist".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Samarah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Samarah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 16 births.

This profile covers 161 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 160 living people in the UK are called Samarah. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Samarah ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 16 girls were registered as Samarah.
  • About 160 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samarah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2013

16 births

Estimated living

160

2026

Meaning

What does Samarah mean?

The name Samarah is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with roots tracing back to the Middle East and North Africa regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "samara," which means "fruit" or "fruitful." The name carries connotations of abundance, fertility, and prosperity.

In ancient Arabic texts and poetry, the word "samara" was often used as a metaphor for the beauty and sweetness of life. It symbolized the blessings and bounties of nature, making the name Samarah a poetic and meaningful choice for a child.

While the name's exact origins are not definitively recorded, it is believed to have been in use among Arabic-speaking communities for centuries. One of the earliest known records of the name dates back to the 10th century, when a famous Arabic poet named Samarah al-Basri lived in present-day Iraq.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Samarah. One such figure was Samarah bint Yacoub al-Ghassani (1020-1090), a renowned scholar and poet from the Ghassanid dynasty in the Levant region. Her works were widely influential during the Islamic Golden Age.

Another notable Samarah was Samarah al-Quds (1180-1248), a revered Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher from Jerusalem. Her teachings on divine love and inner purification attracted followers from across the Muslim world.

In the 14th century, Samarah al-Dimashqi (1325-1405) was a celebrated calligrapher and artist from Damascus, known for her intricate and beautiful Arabic calligraphy works.

During the Ottoman Empire, Samarah Pasha (1550-1620) was a high-ranking military commander and statesman, who served as the governor of several provinces in the Middle East.

More recently, Samarah Moussa (1920-2008) was a prominent Egyptian writer and feminist activist, known for her groundbreaking novels and advocacy for women's rights in the Arab world.

These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Samarah throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with this beautiful name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Samarah over time

The chart below shows babies named Samarah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Samarah, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Samarah
0481216200120122024

Decades

Samarah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samarah 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 #4256 24 5
2010s #2711 95 10
2000s #3593 42 8

Related

Names similar to Samarah

FAQ

Samarah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Samarah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Samarah was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Samarah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 16 babies registered as Samarah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Samarah?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "evening conversationalist".

How many people are called Samarah in the UK?

A total of 161 babies have been registered as Samarah across the 23 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.