UK girl's name
Samiha
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "forgiving" or "indulgent".
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.
Samiha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Samiha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2115, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 46 births.
This profile covers 597 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 594 living people in the UK are called Samiha. 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
- • Samiha ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 46 girls were registered as Samiha.
- • About 594 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samiha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2115
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
2003
46 births
Estimated living
594
2026
Meaning
What does Samiha mean?
The name Samiha is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "samih," which means "noble" or "generous." It first emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period, around the 7th or 8th century.
The earliest known recorded use of the name Samiha can be traced back to Islamic literature and historical records from the Abbasid era. It was a popular name among Arab nobility and scholars during that time.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Samiha was Samiha bint al-Abbas, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in the 8th century. She was known for her literary works and her contributions to the intellectual circles of the Abbasid court.
In the 11th century, Samiha al-Qurashi was a prominent mystic and Sufi teacher who lived in Persia. She was renowned for her spiritual teachings and her influence on the Sufi tradition.
During the 13th century, Samiha al-Dimashqi was a respected physician and scholar from Damascus. She was known for her expertise in medicine and her contributions to the field of pharmacology.
In the 16th century, Samiha Banu was a princess and the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of several architectural marvels in India.
Another notable figure with the name Samiha was Samiha Ayverdi, a Turkish writer and activist who lived in the 20th century (1905-1993). She was a prominent figure in the Turkish literary scene and was known for her efforts in preserving the cultural heritage of Istanbul.
Throughout history, the name Samiha has been associated with nobility, generosity, and intellectual pursuits. It continues to be a popular name in the Arab world and among Muslim communities, carrying the connotations of its rich cultural and historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Samiha over time
The chart below shows babies named Samiha 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 Samiha, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 46 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Samiha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samiha 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 | #3127 | 40 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2455 | 130 | 10 |
| 2000s | #834 | 345 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1018 | 82 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Samiha
- 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
Samiha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Samiha in the UK right now?
In 2024, Samiha was ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Samiha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 46 babies registered as Samiha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Samiha?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "forgiving" or "indulgent".
How many people are called Samiha in the UK?
A total of 597 babies have been registered as Samiha across the 29 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.