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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sumi

Sumi

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Sumi

Pronounced SOO-mee /ˈsuː.miː/Medium

Meaning: Best known as the Japanese Sumi, 'clear; refined; pure' (as in clear water or ink); it is also a Korean and an Indian name, with senses shifting by language and characters. Character-dependent, which we note honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: A serene two-beat name: Sumi means 'clear, refined' in Japanese (said 'SOO-mee').
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Origin LowJapanese, Korean
MeaningBest known as the Japanese Sumi, 'clear; refined; pure' (as in clear water or ink); it is also a Korean and an Indian name, with senses shifting by language and characters. Character-dependent, which we note honestly.
U.S. rank (2023)#14959 ↗ Rising
2023 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1922
Total births (all-time)≈ 206
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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192719162023

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

Sumi is a Japanese name, 'clear; refined; pure,' also found in Korean and Indian use. A calm, elegant name (said 'SOO-mee'); the exact sense is character-dependent, which we note.

It appears only in the rarest tier for U.S. girls. Newly emerging here.

Did you know? Sumi means 'clear; refined' in Japanese — think clear water or ink — and is carried in Korea and India too, its sense shifting by language. Character-dependent, which we note.
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Sumi — Japanese 'clear, refined'; also Korean/Indian; character-dependent

Variations

SumieSumikoSumee

Nicknames

SuSumi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sumi…

Yumi— a like clear Japanese name
Emi— a like soft two-beat pick
Mai— a like serene East-Asian name
Rumi— a like refined modern choice

Explore names like Sumi

By themejapaneseserenecharacter-dependentclear

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sumi mean?

Sumi means 'clear; refined; pure' in Japanese, and is also used in Korea and India. The exact sense is character-dependent, which we note.

How do you pronounce Sumi?

It's said SOO-mee /ˈsuː.miː/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Where does the name Sumi come from?

It is best known from Japanese, meaning 'clear, refined', and is also carried in Korea and India. The sense is character-dependent, which we note.

How popular is Sumi?

Sumi is extremely rare for girls in the U.S. — a newly emerging pick.

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