Sami

Sami - A very unique male name

Sami appeared on the charts for the first time in 1975 on position #1892. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Sami and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Sami? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Sami. The baby boy name Sami was given to 153 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1063 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 9,584 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Sami peaked in popularity 22 years ago in 2004 on position 1026.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Sami, 1-5?

Sami is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Sami is currently topping the baby name charts in Virginia at position #471 - and is the least popular in North Carolina at position #1,433.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Sami is where you live.

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Sami origin and meaning

Arabic; also Finnish

From Arabic sami, 'exalted, sublime, high' — also used in Finland as a short form of Samuel/Samuli

Sami has two independent lives: an Arabic name meaning exalted, and the Finnish pet form of Samuel that became a full name in Finland. American use since 1975 draws on both, and the name reached its peak in 2025.

Attested etymology

Sami is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Sami, pop culture references for the name Sami and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Sami

We've found the following names that sound similar to Sami, sorted by popularity.

Sean / Shawn / Shane / Sam / Shaun / Simon / Shannon / Sammy / Sammie / Sonny /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Sami

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Sami a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Sami?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

SAH-mee · /ˈsɑːmi/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Samy — A transliteration/spelling variant.

Famous bearers

• Sami Hyypiä — Finnish footballer, longtime Liverpool defender (b. 1973) Contemporary

Style

InternationalShort form

Why parents choose it

Sami is a friendly two syllables that works across Arabic, Finnish and English contexts at once. Its current peak reflects both diaspora use and the general turn to short names.

Worth knowing

• Also the name of the Indigenous Sami people of northern Europe — a respectful but noticeable extra association.
• Will be taken for a nickname for Samuel or Samantha on paper.