Sama
Sama is a Muslim girl name meaning “Sky, heaven”.
| Meaning | Sky, heaven |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Arabic |
| Arabic spelling | سماء |
| Pronunciation | sah-MAH |
| Arabic root | س م و (s-m-w) — to be high, to rise |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Sama
Sama is the Arabic samāʾ, the sky or heaven, from the root s-m-w, which expresses height and rising above. In classical Arabic anything that is above something else can be called its samāʾ, which is why the word covers both the visible sky and the heavens in a religious sense. Related words from the same root include sumuww, loftiness, and the adjective sāmī, exalted, which is also the boy's name Sami. For a girl, the name evokes openness, light and elevation of character.
In ordinary spelling Sama drops the final hamza of samāʾ, which is why Samaa appears as an alternative. Samah, sometimes listed as a variant, is also a separate name meaning generosity, and samāʿ, listening, is a different word again, associated with Sufi music and poetry. Most families who choose Sama intend the sky. The name has grown popular across Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and the Gulf in recent decades and has travelled with Arab families to Europe and North America. It is pronounced sah-MAH, with the stress on the long final vowel, and in Turkish the related word sema also means sky.
Is Sama a Muslim name?
Yes. Sama is an Arabic name meaning sky, used by Muslim families across the Arab world and beyond.
Is Sama in the Quran?
The word samā' (sky) appears many times in the Quran, for example: 'who made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy' (Quran 2:22).
Where is the name Sama used?
Popular in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and the Gulf, and increasingly among diaspora families.
Gifts with the name Sama
- Sama name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Sama baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Sama
More girl names like Sama
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sama mean?
Sama means 'Sky, heaven'. It comes from Arabic.
Is Sama a Muslim name?
Yes. Sama is an Arabic name meaning sky, used by Muslim families across the Arab world and beyond.
How do you write Sama in Arabic?
Sama is written سماء in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Sama?
Sama is pronounced sah-MAH.
Is Sama mentioned in the Quran?
The word samā' (sky) appears many times in the Quran, for example: 'who made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy' (Quran 2:22).
Is Sama the same as Samah?
Not exactly. Sama (سماء) means sky, while Samah (سماح) is a separate Arabic name meaning generosity and forgiveness, although the spellings are sometimes mixed in English.
Does Sama mean listening in Sufism?
That is a different word, samāʿ (سماع), from a different root. The name Sama usually means sky.