Sema

♀ Girl

Pronounced SEH-mah /ˈsɛ.mə/Medium

Meaning: From the Turkish Sema, 'the sky; heaven' (from Arabic sama); the word also names the sema, the Sufi whirling ceremony of the Mevlevi order. Noted honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: A celestial Turkish name: Sema means 'the sky; heaven' (said 'SEH-mah'). Also the Sufi sema.

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Origin MediumTurkish

MeaningFrom the Turkish Sema, 'the sky; heaven' (from Arabic sama); the word also names the sema, the Sufi whirling ceremony of the Mevlevi order. Noted honestly.

U.S. rank (2023)#17213 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 213

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

Sema is Turkish for 'the sky; heaven,' from the Arabic sama; the same word names the sema, the Mevlevi Sufi whirling ceremony. It reads celestial and serene — rare in the U.S. (said 'SEH-mah').

In the U.S. it appears rarely, mostly in Turkish families. Rare, celestial, and serene.

Did you know? Sema is Turkish for 'the sky; heaven' (from Arabic sama); the word also names the sema, the Sufi whirling ceremony — noted honestly (said 'SEH-mah').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Sema — Turkish 'sky; heaven'; Sufi sema; noted honestly

Variations

SemahSimaSemma

Nicknames

SemMia

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sema mean?

Sema is Turkish for 'the sky; heaven'; the word also names the Sufi whirling ceremony (sema).

How do you pronounce Sema?

It's said SEH-mah /ˈsɛ.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sema a boy or girl name?

Sema is a girl's name.

How popular is Sema?

Sema is rare in the U.S.