UK girl's name
Sumer
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "guardian" or "watchful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sumer is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sumer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4688, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 9 births.
This profile covers 52 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 52 living people in the UK are called Sumer. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sumer ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 9 girls were registered as Sumer.
- • About 52 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sumer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4688
2010
Births in 2010
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
9 births
Estimated living
52
2026
Meaning
What does Sumer mean?
The name Sumer is believed to have originated from the ancient Sumerian civilization, which emerged in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE. This region, located in modern-day Iraq, was known as the "Cradle of Civilization" and was home to one of the earliest known civilizations in human history.
The Sumerians developed a complex writing system, known as cuneiform, which was one of the earliest forms of written language. The name "Sumer" itself is derived from the Sumerian words "ki-en-gir," which translates to "land of the civilized lords" or "land of the cultivated plains."
The ancient Sumerian civilization left behind numerous historical records and artifacts, many of which reference various names and individuals. However, it is uncertain whether the name "Sumer" was actually used as a personal name during that time period.
One of the earliest known references to the name "Sumer" can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem dating back to around 2100 BCE. In this epic, the character Gilgamesh is described as the ruler of the city-state of Uruk, which was located in the region of Sumer.
While the name "Sumer" may not have been commonly used as a personal name in ancient times, it has been adopted as a given name in more recent centuries. One notable individual with this name was Sumer Pasha (1852-1913), an Ottoman military officer and statesman who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) of the Ottoman Empire from 1909 to 1910.
Another historical figure bearing the name Sumer was Sumer Singh Suri (1866-1938), an Indian revolutionary and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was a prominent member of the Ghadar Party and worked tirelessly to promote the cause of Indian freedom.
In the realm of art and literature, Sumer Karahoca (1932-1992) was a renowned Turkish poet and writer. He was acclaimed for his contributions to modern Turkish poetry and his works exploring themes of identity, love, and social issues.
Additionally, Sumer Sivrioglu (born 1976) is a Turkish-Australian chef and restaurateur who has gained international recognition for his contributions to promoting and preserving traditional Turkish cuisine. He is the owner of several successful restaurants in Sydney, Australia, and has authored several cookbooks.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the name Sumer throughout history, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this name with ancient Sumerian roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sumer over time
The chart below shows babies named Sumer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sumer, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2010, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sumer by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sumer 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 | #4688 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4379 | 30 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2667 | 18 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sumer
- 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
Sumer: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sumer in the UK right now?
In 2010, Sumer was ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sumer most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 9 babies registered as Sumer in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sumer?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "guardian" or "watchful".
How many people are called Sumer in the UK?
A total of 52 babies have been registered as Sumer across the 12 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.