Saima

♀ Girl

Pronounced SIGH-muh /ˈsaɪ.mə/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic saima, the feminine of sa'im — 'one who fasts', a name of devotion widely used in Arabic- and Urdu-speaking families, especially in Pakistan. Separately, the name resembles Saimaa, Finland's great lake; that is an echo in sound, not a shared route.Low

In 30 seconds: Saima is Arabic and Urdu for 'one who fasts' — a name of devotion (said 'SIGH-muh').

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Origin MediumArabic, Urdu

MeaningFrom Arabic saima, the feminine of sa'im — 'one who fasts', a name of devotion widely used in Arabic- and Urdu-speaking families, especially in Pakistan. Separately, the name resembles Saimaa, Finland's great lake; that is an echo in sound, not a shared route.

U.S. rank (2024)#17184 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1998

Total births (all-time)≈ 660

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Saima is an Arabic name, the feminine of sa'im, 'one who fasts' — a quiet name of devotion, very widely used in Pakistan and across Urdu-speaking families. English speakers sometimes notice Finland's Lake Saimaa; that is an echo, not a shared origin, and we mark it as such (said 'SIGH-muh').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare here, very familiar in Pakistan.

Did you know? Fasting is one of the pillars of Islamic practice, and Saima names the woman who keeps it. Separately, Saimaa is the name of Finland's largest lake — a resemblance in sound only, which we note.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Saima — Arabic sa'ima 'one who fasts'; Finnish Saimaa is a sound echo only

Variations

SaymaSaimahSa'ima

Nicknames

SaiMimi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Saima mean?

Saima is Arabic for 'one who fasts' — a name of devotion. It also sounds like Finland's Lake Saimaa, but that is an echo only.

How do you pronounce Saima?

It's said SIGH-muh /ˈsaɪ.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Saima a boy or girl name?

Saima is a girl's name; the masculine form is Saim.

How popular is Saima?

Saima is a rare name for girls in the U.S., though it is well used in Pakistan.