Shams
Meaningsun · Arabic
Shams is an Arabic gender-neutral name meaning “sun”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well.
Did you know?
- Word funShams starts and ends with the same letter, S. A neat little bookend.
- GenerationShams is having its moment right now. Most Shamss are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Shams would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 38,314 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryShams first shows up in US birth records in 1993, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 32 years since.
- Boy or girlShams truly works for either: 86% of the 49 babies named Shams in 2025 were girls, the rest boys.
US births per million girls, 1999–2025
US births per million boys, 1993–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shams
Shams is a gender-neutral name of Arabic origin meaning “sun”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat with a crisp finish, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name. It works for a boy or a girl, which suits parents who'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
Questions about the name Shams
What does the name Shams mean?
Shams means “sun” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “sun” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other gender-neutral names with a similar meaning include Elian (“possibly of the sun”), Cyrus (“possibly sun”), Elio (“sun”) and Samson (“of the sun”).
What is the origin of the name Shams?
Shams is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Caleb (“dog, faithful”) and Silas (“of the forest”).
Is Shams a boy or girl name?
Both. Shams is a true gender-neutral name used for boys and girls: in 2025, 86% of US babies named Shams were girls and 14% were boys. That balance makes it a good pick if you'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
How popular is the name Shams?
Shams ranked #3,577 for US girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,591 places.
What names are similar to Shams?
If you like Shams, you might also like Elian, Cyrus, Elio and Samson.
What should I know before naming my baby Shams?
Shams is an Arabic gender-neutral name meaning “sun”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.