NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Samim

A masculine Arabic name meaning "sincere" or "faithful".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Samim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Samim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 6 births.

This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2001 to 2018. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Samim. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Samim ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 6 boys were registered as Samim.
  • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3959

2018

Births in 2018

4

Latest year

Peak year

2010

6 births

Estimated living

37

2026

Meaning

What does Samim mean?

The name Samim is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "samim," which means "intimate friend" or "close companion." The name is thought to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.

In Arabic literature and poetry, the word "samim" has been used to describe a close and trusted friend or confidant. The name Samim may have been given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be loyal and trustworthy companions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Samim is found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher Abu Nuwas, who lived in the 8th century CE. He wrote a poem in which he referred to a close friend by the name Samim.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Samim. One of the earliest was Samim al-Dawlah, a Persian prince and military leader who lived in the 10th century CE. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle.

Another prominent figure was Samim al-Din al-Isfahani, a 12th-century Persian scholar and poet. He was renowned for his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to Persian literature.

In the 13th century, there was Samim al-Din Mahmud, a Persian philosopher and mystic who wrote extensively on Sufism and Islamic spirituality.

During the Ottoman Empire, a notable figure named Samim Pasha lived in the 16th century. He was a grand vizier and military commander who played a significant role in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the name Samim was Samim Akram, a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team from the 1980s to the early 2000s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Samim over time

The chart below shows babies named Samim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Samim, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Samim
02356200120092018

Decades

Samim by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samim 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
2010s #4185 19 5
2000s #3524 18 5

Related

Names similar to Samim

FAQ

Samim: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Samim was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Samim most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 6 babies registered as Samim in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Samim?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "sincere" or "faithful".

How many people are called Samim in the UK?

A total of 37 babies have been registered as Samim across the 10 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.