Semiyah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "heaven-sent" or "heavenly".
Name Census estimates that about 146 living Americans carry the first name Semiyah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Semiyah today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Semiyah births was 2012 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Semiyah. 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.
People living today
146
~ 1 in 2,347,632 Americans
Peak year
2012
16 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2020 SSA rank
#13,239
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Semiyah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Semiyah from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 83 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Semiyah 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 Semiyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Semiyahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Semiyah
The name Semiyah is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle East and North Africa regions. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sami," which means "elevated" or "sublime." It is thought to have been in use as a given name since ancient times, carrying connotations of exaltation and nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Semiyah can be found in historical accounts from the 7th century CE, during the rise of the Islamic civilization. In these records, Semiyah is mentioned as the name of a prominent female figure known for her wisdom and virtue.
Throughout the centuries, the name Semiyah has been borne by several notable individuals across various regions and cultures influenced by the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. One such person was Semiyah bint Al-Mukhtar, a revered scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century CE in present-day Iraq. Her works were widely celebrated for their depth and eloquence.
In the 11th century, Semiyah al-Andalusiyah was a renowned physician and philosopher from the Iberian Peninsula, known for her contributions to the fields of medicine and natural sciences. Her writings and teachings had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of her time.
Another historical figure bearing the name Semiyah was Semiyah al-Qurashiyah, a prominent Muslim mystic and Sufi saint from the 13th century. She was revered for her spiritual wisdom and her dedication to the teachings of Islamic mysticism.
During the Ottoman Empire, Semiyah Hatun was a influential figure in the 16th century, known for her patronage of the arts and her support for educational initiatives. She played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Ottoman court.
These are just a few examples of individuals named Semiyah who have left their mark on history, each contributing to various fields and disciplines across different eras and regions. The name Semiyah continues to carry a rich legacy and significance, evoking a sense of elevation and nobility rooted in its ancient origins.
People
Semiyah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Semiyah 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
Semiyah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Semiyah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 146 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Semiyah 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 2,347,632 US residents.
Is Semiyah a common name?
We classify Semiyah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 148 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Semiyah most popular?
The single biggest year for Semiyah was 2012, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Semiyah is about 15 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 Semiyah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Semiyah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Semiyah in the SSA data are female. 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 Semiyah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Semiyah 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 Semiyah 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 Americans are named Semiyah?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.