UK boy's name
Sameh
A masculine Arabic name meaning "forgiving" or "one who pardons".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sameh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sameh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1999 to 2021. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Sameh. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sameh ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 boys were registered as Sameh.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sameh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Sameh mean?
The name Sameh is an Arabic name with origins in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "samih" which means "high" or "elevated". The name can be traced back to the 7th century and the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
Sameh was a relatively uncommon name during the early centuries of Islam, with few historical references or records. However, it gained more prominence in later centuries, particularly among Arab scholars and intellectuals.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Sameh was Sameh ibn Malik al-Khawlani, a 9th century Arab poet and scholar from Yemen. He was renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in philology.
Another notable figure with the name Sameh was Sameh ibn Yahya al-Ghazzi, a 14th century Syrian scholar and historian. He wrote several important works on the history of Damascus and the lives of prominent Islamic figures.
In the 15th century, Sameh ibn Muhammad al-Dimashqi was a renowned calligrapher and artist from Damascus. His intricate and beautiful calligraphic works are still celebrated today as masterpieces of Islamic art.
During the 19th century, Sameh Pasha al-Dardiri was an Egyptian statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1857 to 1858. He played a significant role in modernizing Egypt's administration and infrastructure.
In more recent times, Sameh Shoukry, born in 1952, is an Egyptian diplomat and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. He has represented Egypt in various international forums and has played a crucial role in promoting regional stability and cooperation.
While the name Sameh has its roots in the Arab world, it has also gained popularity in other regions, particularly among Muslim communities. The name's association with concepts of elevation and nobility has contributed to its enduring appeal across cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sameh over time
The chart below shows babies named Sameh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sameh, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sameh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sameh 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3656 | 9 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2425 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sameh
- 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
Sameh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sameh in the UK right now?
In 2021, Sameh was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sameh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Sameh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sameh?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "forgiving" or "one who pardons".
How many people are called Sameh in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Sameh across the 5 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.