Siham
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sword" or "arrow".
Name Census estimates that about 738 living Americans carry the first name Siham. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Siham today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Siham births was 2015 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Siham. 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
738
~ 1 in 464,437 Americans
Peak year
2015
48 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,916
Tracked since 1986
Popularity
Siham: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Siham from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 378 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Siham remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Siham 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 Siham during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sihams live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Minnesota, Ohio, Washington recorded the most babies named Siham, while New York, Washington, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 70 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Siham
The name Siham is of Arabic origin and has been in use since ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "sihaam," which means "arrows" or "spears." The name is believed to have been given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be strong and courageous warriors.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Siham can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the word "sihaam" is mentioned in reference to the arrows used in divination practices during pre-Islamic times. This suggests that the name Siham has been in use since the 7th century AD or earlier.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Siham. One of the earliest recorded examples is Siham bint Abi Bakr, who lived during the 7th century AD. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
Another famous Siham was Siham al-Mulk, a powerful and influential woman who lived during the 11th century AD. She was the wife of the Seljuk Sultan Malik Shah I and played a significant role in the political affairs of the Seljuk Empire.
In the realm of literature, there is Siham Antara, a renowned Arabic poet who lived in the 6th century AD. She was known for her powerful and evocative poetry, which often celebrated the virtues of courage and honor.
Moving forward in time, Siham Rayyes was a prominent Lebanese writer and journalist who lived from 1904 to 1985. She was a pioneer in the field of women's rights and played a significant role in the cultural and literary renaissance of the Arab world.
Finally, Siham Jaffer was an influential Tanzanian politician and diplomat who lived from 1926 to 2006. She served as a member of the Tanzanian parliament and was the first woman to be appointed as a cabinet minister in Tanzania.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Siham throughout history, showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage associated with this ancient Arabic name.
People
Siham + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Siham 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
Siham: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Siham?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 738 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Siham 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 464,437 US residents.
Is Siham a common name?
We classify Siham as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 746 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Siham most popular?
The single biggest year for Siham was 2015, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Siham is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Siham a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Siham 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.
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.