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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shams

Shams

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAHMS /ˈʃɑms/High

Meaning: From Arabic shams, 'the sun' — also the name of Rumi's beloved teacher, Shams of TabrizHigh

In 30 seconds: The sun itself, in one blazing syllable: Shams is Arabic for the sun — and the name of the wandering mystic who set Rumi's poetry on fire. Radiant, unisex, and profound.
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Origin HighArabic
MeaningFrom Arabic shams, 'the sun' — also the name of Rumi's beloved teacher, Shams of Tabriz
U.S. rank (2025)#3635 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births42 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 342

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519992025

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

Shams comes from Arabic shams, 'the sun' — an ancient Semitic root shared with Hebrew shemesh. Borne by Shams of Tabriz, the spiritual companion of the poet Rumi, it is given to daughters and sons across the Arab and Persian worlds; this page covers its girls' use.

In the U.S. it appears in Arab and Muslim families. Rare, sun at the root, and mystic-bright.

Did you know? Shams of Tabriz was the dervish whose friendship transformed Rumi into history's best-loved mystic poet — Rumi named his great work the 'Divan of Shams' in his honor.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Shams — etymology

Variations

ShamsaShamsiaChams

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Shams Tabrizi
    Persian Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher who profoundly influenced the poet Rumi

If you like Shams…

Noor— the companion 'light' favorite
Zia— a fellow 'light, splendor' name
Soraya— the Persian star-cluster sister name
Reem— a fellow Arabic choice
Leen— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Shams

By themearabicunisexcelestial
By meaningLoveSun

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Shams mean?

Shams is Arabic for 'the sun'; it was the name of Rumi's beloved teacher, Shams of Tabriz.

How do you pronounce Shams?

It's said SHAHMS /ˈʃɑms/ — a single syllable.

Is Shams a boy or girl name?

Shams is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Shams?

Shams is a rare name in the U.S.

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