Samia
Meaningexalted · Arabic
Samia is an Arabic girl name meaning “exalted”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Samia and you get Amias. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Samia has the names Mia and Sam hiding inside it.
- GenerationSamia peaked in 2005, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Samia you'd meet today is about 20 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Samia would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 22,321 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistorySamia first shows up in US birth records in 1951, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 74 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Samias? Head to Minnesota, where it's the #835 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1951–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Samia
Samia is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “exalted”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 2000s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Samia
What does the name Samia mean?
Samia means “exalted” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Aaliyah (“exalted”), Ali (“exalted, lofty”), Alia (“exalted, high”) and Bridget (“exalted one”).
What is the origin of the name Samia?
Samia is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Samia a boy or girl name?
Samia is a girl name. In 2025, 72 US girls were named Samia.
How popular is the name Samia?
Samia ranked #2,458 for US girls in 2025, given to 72 babies. Its best year was 2005, when it reached #1,539. Over the last five years it has slipped 343 places.
What names are similar to Samia?
If you like Samia, you might also like Aaliyah, Ali, Alia and Bridget.
What should I know before naming my baby Samia?
Samia is an Arabic girl name meaning “exalted”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.