Sami

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAH-mee /ˈsɑː.miː/Low

Meaning: Exalted, elevated, high and nobleLow

In 30 seconds: Sami is an Arabic name meaning exalted or elevated, from the root sami. It is also the name of the indigenous people of Scandinavia (Sami/Saami) and a Finnish/Hebrew name, giving it remarkable cross-cultural breadth.

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Origin LowArabic, Hebrew, Finnish

MeaningExalted, elevated, high and noble

U.S. rank (2024)#1263 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births156 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,111

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

Sami has three distinct origins: as an Arabic name meaning exalted (from sami); as an alternate name for the Sami indigenous people of Lapland; and as a Finnish short form of Samuli (a Finnish form of Samuel). All three give the name remarkable multicultural depth.

Sami is used across Arabic-speaking countries, Muslim communities, and among Finnish and Scandinavian speakers. In the United States it has a clean, friendly sound that travels well across cultures.

Did you know? The Sami people are the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia — Europe's northernmost indigenous people, with a rich culture of reindeer herding and traditional knowledge. The name Sami thus carries both Islamic and indigenous European heritage.

Overall data confidence 60%

Multiple Name Origins

Variations

SammySamuelSamir

Nicknames

Sam

Famous Bearers

★Sami Khedira (1987-present)
German footballer and 2014 World Cup winner who played for Real Madrid and Juventus

If you like Sami…

Omar— Arabic exalted/flourishing name of same tradition

Karim— Arabic generous name of same short elegance

Tamir— Arabic/Hebrew name of same two-syllable brevity

Nami— Finnish/Japanese name of same international feel

Explore names like Sami

By themearabic two-syllable multicultural finnish indigenous exalted

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Frequently Asked

What does Sami mean?

Sami means exalted or elevated in Arabic from the root sami, and is also the name of Scandinavia's indigenous Lapland people.

Is Sami an Arabic name?

Yes, Sami is a common Arabic name meaning exalted, and also exists independently in Finnish and Sami indigenous cultures.

How do you pronounce Sami?

Sami is pronounced SAH-mee with two syllables.

What names are similar to Sami?

Similar names include Omar, Karim, and Tamir.