UK girl's name
Sinem
A feminine Turkish name meaning "moonlight" or "radiant moon".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sinem is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sinem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 10 births.
This profile covers 81 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 80 living people in the UK are called Sinem. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sinem ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 10 girls were registered as Sinem.
- • About 80 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sinem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
10 births
Estimated living
80
2026
Meaning
What does Sinem mean?
The name Sinem is of Turkish origin, derived from the Persian word "sineh," meaning "chest" or "bosom." It is believed to have emerged as a given name during the Ottoman Empire period in the 16th-17th centuries, when Persian linguistic influences were prevalent in the region.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Sinem can be found in Ottoman poetry and literature from the 16th century, often used as a metaphor for beauty and affection. The name gained popularity among the Ottoman elite and aristocracy during this time.
A notable historical figure bearing the name Sinem was Sinem Hanim, a 17th-century Ottoman princess and the daughter of Sultan Ahmed I. She played a significant role in the cultural and artistic patronage of the Ottoman Empire during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, the name Sinem became more widely adopted among the broader Turkish population, particularly in urban centers like Istanbul and Izmir. One of the earliest known literary works featuring a character named Sinem was the novel "Felatun Bey ile Rakim Efendi" by Ahmet Midhat Efendi, published in 1875.
Another prominent individual with the name Sinem was Sinem Güven, a Turkish novelist and playwright born in 1902. Her works explored themes of social justice, gender equality, and the struggles of women in early 20th-century Turkish society.
During the 20th century, the name Sinem continued to gain popularity in Turkey and among Turkish communities worldwide. Notable individuals with this name include Sinem Kobal, a renowned Turkish actress born in 1976, and Sinem Özer, a successful Turkish entrepreneur and businesswoman born in 1980.
While the name Sinem has deep roots in Turkish culture and history, it has also gained recognition globally, transcending its geographical origins. In recent times, individuals of diverse backgrounds have embraced the name, appreciating its melodic sound and unique meaning.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sinem over time
The chart below shows babies named Sinem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sinem, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sinem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sinem 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 | #4640 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5707 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3747 | 46 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2007 | 24 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sinem
- 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
Sinem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sinem in the UK right now?
In 2022, Sinem was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sinem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 10 babies registered as Sinem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sinem?
A feminine Turkish name meaning "moonlight" or "radiant moon".
How many people are called Sinem in the UK?
A total of 81 babies have been registered as Sinem across the 15 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.