NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Samarra

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Arabic, meaning "pleasing" or "entertaining".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Samarra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Samarra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2010 to 2010. 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.

Samarra is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Samarra. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Samarra ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 3 girls were registered as Samarra.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samarra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5707

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

2010

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Samarra mean?

The name Samarra has its origins rooted in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have been derived from the word "samra," which means "dark" or "brown." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone with a darker complexion or hair color.

Historically, Samarra was the name of an ancient city located in modern-day Iraq, approximately 125 kilometers north of Baghdad. This city played a significant role in Islamic history, serving as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate from 836 to 892 CE. The city's name is thought to have influenced the given name Samarra.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Samarra can be found in the writings of renowned Arab historian and geographer, Al-Muqaddasi, who lived from 945 to 1000 CE. He mentioned the city of Samarra in his work, "The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Samarra. One such figure was Samarra bint Ghailan, a renowned Arab poet who lived during the 7th century CE. She was known for her eloquence and skill in composing poetry, and her works were widely celebrated in her time.

Another prominent figure with the name Samarra was Samarra al-Jazari, an Iraqi inventor and engineer who lived from 1136 to 1206 CE. He is credited with creating various advanced mechanical devices, including the first programmable humanoid robot and an early example of a musical automaton.

In the realm of literature, Samarra Khawaja was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from British India, who lived from 1877 to 1950. Her poetry and literary works were widely acclaimed, and she played a significant role in the development of Urdu literature during the 20th century.

The name Samarra also found its way into the world of sports. Samarra Banu was a Bangladeshi sprinter and hurdler who represented her country in various international competitions, including the Olympic Games and Asian Games, from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.

Finally, Samarra Studer was a Swiss artist and sculptor who lived from 1920 to 2011. She was known for her abstract and minimalist works, which were exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Samarra, which has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Samarra by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samarra 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
2010s #5707 3 1

Related

Names similar to Samarra

FAQ

Samarra: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Samarra was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Samarra most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 3 babies registered as Samarra in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Samarra?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Arabic, meaning "pleasing" or "entertaining".

How many people are called Samarra in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Samarra across the 1 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.