UK boy's name
Sameer
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "companion" or "one who converses".
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.
Sameer is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sameer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1951, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 105 births.
This profile covers 1,285 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 11% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,285 living people in the UK are called Sameer. 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
- • Sameer ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 105 boys were registered as Sameer.
- • Sameer ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
- • About 1,285 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sameer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1951
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2005
105 births
Estimated living
1,285
2026
Meaning
What does Sameer mean?
The name Sameer has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "samir," which means "companion" or "one who entertains with conversation." The name has been in use for centuries within the Arab world and across various regions influenced by Islamic culture.
In its earliest recorded use, the name Sameer can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the era of the Islamic Golden Age. At that time, the name was associated with scholars, poets, and intellectuals who engaged in lively discussions and intellectual pursuits.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Sameer can be found in the works of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Maarri (973-1057 CE). His writings often featured characters with the name Sameer, symbolizing the value of companionship and intellectual discourse.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sameer. One such figure was Sameer ibn Laith al-Sulamee (d. 912 CE), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Basra, Iraq, known for his contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence.
Another historical figure was Sameer al-Kalbi (d. 819 CE), a renowned Arab historian and genealogist from Kufa, Iraq, who authored works on the history and lineages of Arab tribes.
In the realm of literature, Sameer Qureshi (1944-1984) was a celebrated Pakistani poet and writer who gained acclaim for his poetry collections and contributions to Urdu literature.
The name Sameer also gained prominence in the field of music, with Sameer Rahim (1930-2012), an Indian classical vocalist and composer from the Kirana gharana, who was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
Another notable figure was Sameer Abaas (1955-2021), an Iraqi poet and writer who was highly regarded for his contributions to Arabic literature and his advocacy for human rights and social justice.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Sameer, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sameer over time
The chart below shows babies named Sameer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Sameer, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 105 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sameer by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sameer 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 | #1877 | 63 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1114 | 302 | 10 |
| 2000s | #401 | 779 | 10 |
| 1990s | #533 | 141 | 4 |
Geography
Where Sameer is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sameer. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Sameer ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
Across the UK
Sameer in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#686 in 2015
3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered
Related
Names similar to Sameer
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Sameer: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sameer in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sameer was ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Sameer most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 105 babies registered as Sameer in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sameer?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "companion" or "one who converses".
How many people are called Sameer in the UK?
A total of 1,285 babies have been registered as Sameer across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland.
Where is Sameer most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sameer ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #686 in 2015. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.