UK girl's name
Samia
A feminine Arabic name meaning "high" or "sublime".
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.
Samia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Samia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 57 births.
This profile covers 848 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 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 860 living people in the UK are called Samia. 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
- • Samia ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 57 girls were registered as Samia.
- • Samia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #806 in 2015.
- • About 860 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
57 births
Estimated living
860
2026
Meaning
What does Samia mean?
The name Samia has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word 'sama', which means 'high', 'lofty', or 'elevated'. The name is believed to have originated in the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. It was often used to describe the beauty and grace of women, with the name symbolizing their elevated status and dignity. In some Islamic texts, the name Samia is also mentioned as one of the names of Paradise, further emphasizing its association with loftiness and exaltation.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women who bore the name Samia. One of the most prominent figures was Samia Gamal (1924-1994), an Egyptian singer, actress, and dancer who was widely renowned for her captivating performances and contributions to the arts. She was celebrated as a cultural icon and a symbol of female empowerment in the Arab world.
Another notable figure was Samia Nkrumah (1930-2019), the wife of Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. She played a significant role in the country's independence movement and was an active advocate for women's rights and social justice.
In the literary world, Samia Bashir (born 1974) is a contemporary American poet and author who has received acclaim for her works exploring themes of identity, race, and cultural intersections.
The name Samia has also been associated with royalty. Princess Samia Nasr (1859-1930) was a member of the Egyptian royal family and a renowned philanthropist known for her charitable endeavors and efforts to improve education and healthcare for women.
Lastly, Samia Messaoudi (born 1984) is a renowned Algerian-French singer and songwriter who has gained international recognition for her fusion of traditional Algerian music with modern influences.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals throughout history who have carried the name Samia, each contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact through their accomplishments and legacies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Samia over time
The chart below shows babies named Samia 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 Samia, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 57 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Samia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samia 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 | #3187 | 44 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1497 | 240 | 10 |
| 2000s | #672 | 458 | 10 |
| 1990s | #874 | 106 | 4 |
Geography
Where Samia is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Samia. 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.
Samia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #806 in 2015.
Across the UK
Samia in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#806 in 2015
4 years of NRS records, 17 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Samia
-
Samia Longchambon
actor; film actor
English television actress
1982-
-
Samia Taqi
writer; graphic designer
Canadian author
1980-
-
Samia Shoaib
actor; film actor
British filmmaker
1953-
Related
Names similar to Samia
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Samia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Samia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Samia was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Samia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 57 babies registered as Samia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Samia?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "high" or "sublime".
How many people are called Samia in the UK?
A total of 848 babies have been registered as Samia across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland.
Where is Samia most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Samia ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #806 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.