Given name & surname
Samia
“one who is exalted”
Samia is a variant of Samya. One Arabic interpretation is “one who is exalted.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Samia is a variant of Samya. One Arabic interpretation is “one who is exalted.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Samia is a variant of Samya. An origin associated with Samya is Arabic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1951. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Samia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,580
- 0 boys · 3,580 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 140 babies
- 2025
- 72
- #2,478 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −33%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 72 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,478 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 32.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 140 in 2006. In 2025, Florida and Georgia and New York shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,085 as a first name in 2020; 505 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Samia
- Samia Suluhu HassanPresident of Tanzania since 2021born 1960
- Samia Yusuf OmarSomali athlete (1991-2012)
- Samia al-AmoudiSaudi Arabian physicianborn 1957
- Samia NkrumahGhanaian journalist and politicianborn 1960
- Samia GamalEgyptian belly dancer and actress (1924–1994)
- Samia HalabyPalestinian artist (born 1936)
- Samia AkariouMoroccan actressborn 1972
- Samia LongchambonEnglish television actressborn 1982
- Samia AdamEgyptian footballerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Samia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nadia
“one who is full of hope”
>99% girls
Analia
Analia is a feminine given name from Spanish.
>99% girls
Salma
“one who is healthy and safe” · “one who is peaceful and safe”
>99% girls
Akira
“one who acts as an anchor”
15% boys · 85% girls
Sarai
“one who is contentious and argumentative”
>99% girls
Saanvi
Saanvi is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Alivia
Alivia is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Malia
“Mary” · “calm”
>99% girls