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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sumaya

Sumaya

♀ Girl

Pronounced soo-MAY-ya /su.ˈmaj.ja/Medium

Meaning: High, elevated, loftyMedium

In 30 seconds: Sumaya is an Arabic girl's name meaning 'high,' 'elevated,' or 'lofty.'
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Origin MediumArabic, Bengali
MeaningHigh, elevated, lofty
U.S. rank (2025)#2383 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births76 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,142

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619692025

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

Sumaya comes from Arabic, where it carries the sense of being high or lofty, a praise of elevated standing or character. It has long currency across the Arabic-speaking world. Princess Sumaya bint Hassan of Jordan (born 1971), who founded Princess Sumaya University for Technology, is a prominent bearer.

The name shifts spelling readily as it crosses regions, appearing as Sumayya, Somaya, Soumaya, Sumaiya, and the Balkan Sumeja, all holding the same lofty meaning.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Sumaya is 'high, elevated, lofty', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Sumaya — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SomayaSumayyaSoumayaSumaiyaSumeja

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Sumaya bint Hassan (1971–present)
    Jordanian princess, founder of Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

If you like Sumaya…

Samia— Arabic name sharing the 'elevated/exalted' sense
Safiya— shares Sumaya's Arabic roots
Samiya— another Arabic name
Sariya— a fellow Arabic choice
Asiya— a fellow Arabic choice

Explore names like Sumaya

By themearabicbengali

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sumaya mean?

Sumaya is usually explained as meaning 'high, elevated, lofty' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Sumaya?

It's commonly said soo-MAY-ya /su.ˈmaj.ja/.

Is Sumaya a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Sumaya is used as a girl name.

How popular is Sumaya?

In 2024, Sumaya ranked #2645 in the U.S. for girls, with 66 births recorded.

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