Sahm
An Arabic name meaning "arrow" or "open-minded".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Sahm. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Sahm today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sahm births was 2022 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sahm. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sahm. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2022
6 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,058
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Sahm: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Sahm by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sahm during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Sahm
The name Sahm originates from the Arabic language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "sahm," which means "arrow" or "shaft." The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula, where archery and weaponry played a significant role in the lives of the nomadic tribes.
In the pre-Islamic era, the name Sahm was likely associated with skilled archers or warriors known for their prowess with bows and arrows. It may have been given as a descriptive name or a title of honor to individuals who excelled in this craft.
While there are no specific references to the name Sahm in ancient religious texts or historical records from the region, it is plausible that the name was used during the early Islamic period, as Arabic names often carried meanings related to strength, valor, and other admirable qualities.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sahm was Sahm ibn Sawad al-Azdi, a renowned Arab poet who lived during the 7th century CE. He is considered one of the most influential figures in early Arabic literature and is known for his eloquent and thought-provoking verses.
Another notable figure was Sahm ibn Malik al-Khawlani, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a respected military leader. He participated in several battles alongside the Prophet and played a crucial role in the spread of Islam during the 7th century.
In the 10th century, Sahm al-Dayri was a prominent scholar and physician from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization.
During the 12th century, Sahm al-Din al-Isfahani was a celebrated Persian poet and writer. His works were widely admired for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into human nature.
In the 14th century, Sahm al-Din al-Qaysi was a renowned Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher from Syria. He was known for his profound wisdom and his ability to guide followers on the path of spiritual enlightenment.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Sahm, each leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and poetry to military leadership, philosophy, and spirituality.
People
Sahm + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sahm as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sahm: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sahm?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sahm going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Sahm a common name?
We classify Sahm as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sahm most popular?
The single biggest year for Sahm was 2022, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sahm is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Sahm in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sahm a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sahm in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Sahm still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sahm in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Sahm can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Sahm as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Sahm on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.