NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Sami

A masculine Arabic name meaning "sublime" or "elevated".

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.

Sami is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Sami popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #297, with 151 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 178 births.

This profile covers 3,636 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 85% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 3,729 living people in the UK are called Sami. 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

  • Sami ranked #297 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 151 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 178 boys were registered as Sami.
  • Sami ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #432 in 2024.
  • About 3,729 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sami as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.2% of Sami registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#297

2024

Births in 2024

151

Latest year

Peak year

2010

178 births

Estimated living

3,729

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Sami

In England and Wales birth records, Sami has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.2% of registrations are for boys and 0.8% 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.

99% boys
Boys3,636 (99.2%)Girls31 (0.8%)

Sami registered for boys

  • Ranked #297 in 2024
  • 151 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2010 (178 births)

Sami registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,634 in 2021
  • 4 girls registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2010 (7 births)

Meaning

What does Sami mean?

The name Sami has its origins in the Semitic languages and is derived from the Arabic word 'sami', meaning 'elevated' or 'exalted'. It is a name that has been used for centuries across various cultures and regions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sami can be found in ancient Mesopotamian texts, where it was used to refer to a tribe or group of people who were known for their skilled craftsmanship and trading prowess. The name gained further prominence during the Islamic Golden Age, when several notable scholars and thinkers bore the name.

Among the most famous historical figures named Sami was Sami al-Majari, a renowned 9th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the fields of trigonometry and spherical geometry. His work laid the foundation for many subsequent advancements in these disciplines.

Another notable Sami was Sami Shalom, a prominent Jewish philosopher and theologian who lived in the 11th century. He was widely respected for his commentaries on various religious texts and his efforts to bridge the gap between different faiths and cultures.

In the realm of literature, Sami Pasha al-Barudi, an Egyptian poet and writer who lived from 1838 to 1904, is remembered for his influential works that celebrated Arabic culture and language. His poems and prose played a crucial role in the revival of Arabic literature during the 19th century.

The name Sami also has a rich history in the world of music and arts. Sami al-Shawa, a Palestinian singer and composer born in 1909, was renowned for his contributions to the development of modern Arabic music. His compositions blended traditional melodies with contemporary styles, earning him widespread acclaim.

Sami Frashëri, an Albanian writer, philosopher, and activist who lived from 1850 to 1904, is considered one of the most influential figures in the Albanian National Awakening movement. His works, which included poetry, plays, and essays, played a pivotal role in shaping Albanian national identity and promoting cultural renaissance.

These are just a few examples of the many notable figures throughout history who have borne the name Sami, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and intellectual endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sami over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Sami in England and Wales, 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 Sami, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 151 births in 2024, compared with 178 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
04693139185199620102024

Decades

Sami by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sami 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 #322 694 5
2010s #314 1,484 10
2000s #281 1,265 10
1990s #435 193 4

Geography

Where Sami is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sami. 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.

Sami ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #432 in 2024.

Scotland
7

Across the UK

Sami in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#432 in 2024

24 years of NRS records, 119 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Sami

  • Sami Rahman

    psychologist; researcher; cyberneticist; data engineer; artificial intelligence researcher; data scientist

    British data and AI leader, psychologist, and cyberneticist

    1994-

  • Sami Hamdi

    political pundit

    British political commentator, journalist and risk‑intelligence adviser

    1990-

  • Sami Yusuf

    singer; record producer; songwriter; music arranger; composer; social activist; line producer; vocalist; musician

    British musician

    1980-

  • Sami Habra

    musicologist

    French musicologist (1935–2023)

    1935-2023

  • Sami Shamoon

    businessperson

    British businessman

    1932-2009

  • Sami Mikhail

    researcher

    British Earth scientist

Related

Names similar to Sami

FAQ

Sami: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Sami was ranked #297 for boys in England and Wales, with 151 births registered.

When was Sami most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 178 babies registered as Sami in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sami?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "sublime" or "elevated".

How many people are called Sami in the UK?

A total of 3,636 babies have been registered as Sami across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 119 more in Scotland.

Where is Sami most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Sami ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #432 in 2024. 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.