MallowbyNames

Amir

ah-MEER · In Arabic, Amir means "prince" or "commander"; an unrelated Hebrew name of the same spelling means "treetop".

2025 rank (boys)
#105
Babies named in 2025
3,297
Peak popularity
2023
2025 frequency
1 in 518 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 1986

Rising since 1986, #105 for boys today.

Popularity of Amir since 1954

Babies named Amir per year in U.S. Social Security records.

1.2k2.4k3.6k1960198020002020Most births 2024Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1950s11
1960s144
1970s655
1980s1,843
1990s3,615
2000s8,869
2010s20,481
2020s20,129

Meaning & origin

Amir is a title before it is a name, the Arabic word for "commander" or "prince" that English absorbed as "emir" and, more covertly, inside "admiral". It has named rulers, poets (most famously Amir Khusrau, the great Persian-language poet of medieval Delhi), and ordinary boys across the Muslim world for centuries, while modern Hebrew independently coined an Amir of its own meaning "treetop".

Its American career is a long, patient climb. First recorded in 1954, Amir began rising in 1986 and reached its all-time peak in 2023; in 2025 it stood at 105th, given to about 1 in 518 newborn boys. It is strongest in the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and Maryland, an East Coast, urban footprint shared by several names that bridge Muslim heritage and mainstream American sound.

That bridge is the name's quiet strength. Amir needs no translation in Cairo or Tehran, yet rhymes comfortably with the soft, vowel-forward boys' names Americans currently favor, Kai, Elias, Roman, Asher. Paired with the fast-rising Amira for a sister, it makes one of the tidier brother-sister sets in current use.

Amir is the Arabic title amīr, "commander, prince", from the root ʾ-m-r, "to command", the word English borrowed as "emir", and which hides inside "admiral" (from amīr al-baḥr, "commander of the sea"). It has served as both title and personal name across the Arabic- and Persian-speaking worlds for over a millennium. A separate Hebrew name Amir (אָמִיר), meaning "treetop", arose in modern Israel, so the same four letters carry two independent etymologies. American records first show Amir in 1954; it began climbing in 1986 and has become a mainstay among Muslim families, Black families, and others drawn to its strong two-syllable sound.

Where Amir is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Amir” around the world

Where Amir lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    #41

    in 2024

  • Ireland

    18

    babies in 2025

  • Quebec

    63

    babies in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Ami, Meer

Variants: Aamir, Emir, Ameer, Amyr

Famous people named Amir

  • Amir Khan · British former unified light-welterweight boxing world champion
  • Amir Khusrau · 13th-century Persian-language poet and musician of the Delhi Sultanate

Sibling names for Amir

Names that share Amir's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Amira, Layla, Naima, Zara, Aaliyah, Nyla, Leila, Alea, Aleia, Alia, Aliah, Aliya, Aliyah, Alliyah, Ameena, Amirah, Anisa, Atiya, Ayat, Iesha, Iman, Jamila, Kamilah, Karima, Lailah, Lamia, Laylah, Makiyah, Malak, Mariyah, Nakia, Nylah, Rashida, Rihanna, Sama, Samira, Samiya, Samiyah, Saniya, Saniyah, Shakira, Yazmin, Zaida, Zariya, Zariyah, Ziya, Aaliya, Aiza, Ajah, Akilah, Alaa, Alaiyah, Aleeah, Aleeyah, Alyah, Amarah, Ameera, Ameerah, Amyah, Amyra, Analiyah, Aneesa, Anylah, Ashia, Asiah, Ayah, Aziyah, Aziza, Azra, Daliyah, Daniyah, Emaan, Eman, Hafsa, Henna, Hiba, Inara, Jahaira, Jamaya, Jameelah, Jamiah, Jamilah, Kaniyah, Karime, Liyana, Malaika, Malika, Mecca, Miesha, Muna, Naila, Nailah, Najah, Naliyah, Neda, Neila, Nida, Nour, Nuri, Rana, Rania, Raniya, Raniyah, Reema, Rima, Roya, Saba, Sadia, Saida, Saira, Sakina, Samaya, Samia, Samirah, Saniah, Shireen, Sima, Sunni, Zahara, Zakia, Zakiya, Zakiyah, Zaniya, Zarah, Zayda, Zia, Aalia, Aaliyha, Aalyah, Aalyiah, Aamira, Aariyah, Abeer, Adeena, Afia, Ahmani, Aixa, Akila, Akirah, Akiyah, Ala, Alaiah, Aleiah, Aleiyah, Alima, Aliyanna, Alliah, Alyia, Alyiah, Amana, Amel, Amena, Amera, Amerah, Amila, Amirra, Amirrah, Amri, Amyrah, Anabia, Ashya, Asra, Atia, Ayanah, Ayonna, Aziya, Basma, Belkis, Bibi, Dalylah, Damiya, Diara, Emina, Enaya, Faiza, Falisha, Fara, Fariha, Hadiya, Hadiyah, Hamdi, Jaiyana, Jaliya, Jameela, Jamela, Jamile, Jamilla, Jamillah, Jamirah, Jamyah, Jamyra, Jasmina, Jaziya, Kalilah, Kamirah, Karimah, Kariyah, Keianna, Kenza, Khaliya, Khara, Kinza, Lama, Lamiya, Lamiyah, Latifa, Leylah, Malayia, Maleka, Malikah, Melika, Miral, Misk, Munira, Muntaha, Nadirah, Nadiyah, Naeemah, Naija, Najma, Nasia, Nasiyah, Nayra, Niema, Niylah, Nuha, Nura, Qamar, Rakiya, Rakiyah, Ramiah, Rasheedah, Rihana, Riyah, Sabriya, Sadiya, Safiyah, Sakinah, Salam, Saliyah, Sameera, Samora, Samyah, Sanah, Sarra, Saudia, Semira, Shakirah, Shariah, Sherin, Suraya, Tahiry, Taijah, Tajah, Tariyah, Yaminah, Zahira, Zakiah, Zakira, Zakiyyah, Zamirah, Zamiya, Zharia, Zoraya, Aairah, Aaleyah, Aaliah, Aamani, Afiya, Afra, Afrah, Ahliyah, Ahmiya, Ahniya, Aijah, Aima, Aissa, Akylah, Aliha, Alilah, Aliyyah, Alizeh, Ameira, Amiera, Amilah, Amiria, Ammara, Aneesah, Anesa, Aniylah, Anysa, Anzal, Aqueelah, Arfa, Asjah, Auda, Aysa, Azayah, Bana, Bisma, Damira, Daziyah, Elaf, Emira, Faria, Ghazal, Hania, Haniyah, Harmani, Hasina, Ilham, Ilyana, Iyesha, Jahmya, Jamilex, Jamilia, Jamilya, Jamylah, Janiylah, Jniya, Kamarah, Kamariah, Kameela, Kamile, Kamilia, Kamillah, Kamylah, Kamyrah, Kareemah, Khala, Khalaya, Khalila, Khalilah, Khalyla, Khamila, Khamiya, Khira, Lamiah, Lamisha, Lamyah, Leenah, Madinah, Malaak, Maleeha, Maleeka, Mishal, Momina, Naeema, Najia, Nakhia, Namiyah, Naria, Nasira, Nasra, Naziya, Nyashia, Nyeema, Omara, Pharrah, Raima, Ramyah, Ranyah, Rayya, Raziah, Raziyah, Ruwayda, Sabree, Sabria, Sadiyah, Sahira, Sairah, Sameerah, Sanayah, Saniyyah, Sanyia, Sayda, Shaakira, Shahidah, Shaima, Shakeela, Shamiyah, Shamyah, Sharia, Shariya, Sharmin, Siyah, Soriyah, Suhey, Suleyma, Sultana, Suraiya, Suriyah, Taaliyah, Tahari, Tahiri, Tamanna, Taqwa, Traniyah, Umaiza, Yamina, Yasmen, Zafirah, Zahirah, Zahraa, Zahria, Zairah, Zakeria, Zakirah, Zakyah, Zamani, Zamira, Zareen, Zeenat, Ziyana, Zunairah, Zyniah, Aleeha, Amiree, Izza, Massa, Nouri, Rabab, Sabirin, Saher, Zakeya, Aafiya, Aailyah, Aalaiyah, Aaleeyah, Aaliayah, Aaliyana, Aalliyah, Aamilah, Abeera, Abia, Adiva, Afifa, Afiyah, Ahleah, Ahmia, Ahmina, Ahmira, Aidah, Alaija, Aleayah, Aliviyah, Aliyha, Alliya, Allyah, Amaani, Amairah, Amanee, Ameka, Amiira, Amiyrah, Amunique, Amyre, Amyriah, Anhar, Aniayah, Aniqua, Aniza, Annisha, Azya, Bahja, Baneen, Besan, Damyra, Daziya, Deysha, Diyana, Doaa, Enisa, Fabiha, Falak, Fareedah, Hamna, Hanae, Haneefah, Haniah, Hanifah, Hanin, Haniyyah, Humna, Ieesha, Ilhan, Imane, Inayat, Insiya, Jahara, Jahmia, Jameila, Jamillia, Jazminn, Jemila, Joliyah, Kadisha, Kafi, Kaleeyah, Kalimah, Kamariyah, Kamilya, Kanija, Kanita, Khaira, Khaleelah, Khalina, Khalis, Khamil, Kimyah, Kowsar, Laylaa, Leili, Leyli, Mahdiya, Mahia, Makkah, Marwah, Melaya, Meriem, Misbah, Nabi, Narah, Naryiah, Nazifa, Nazirah, Nazyia, Neima, Niaja, Niajah, Nimah, Noorah, Nuriya, Nuriyah, Nury, Omunique, Radiah, Rafeef, Raisha, Raiyah, Raliyah, Ramiyah, Ramla, Rashia, Raushanah, Razia, Rimas, Sadeen, Sakia, Samai, Samyiah, Saniyya, Sanyiah, Shahana, Shahed, Shakeera, Shamila, Shareen, Suheyla, Taheerah, Tamana, Tarahji, Tasmia, Taziyah, Uzma, Vaniyah, Waniya, Yasina, Yazaira, Yazleen, Zafira, Zaharah, Zahriyah, Zakyia, Zakyra, Zamariyah, Zamyia, Zamyra, Zarahi, Zareena, Zarrah, Zeyna

Brothers: Zaid, Elias, Kai, Omar, Roman, Idris, Adnan, Amari, Anas, Jabril, Jahmir, Jaleel, Jamaal, Jamal, Jamir, Karam, Kareem, Karim, Khalid, Khalil, Malik, Nasir, Raheem, Salah, Sami, Samir, Tariq, Zayn, Adil, Aman, Amauri, Ameen, Amere, Amil, Anwar, Aziah, Aziz, Faisal, Faris, Issa, Jahir, Jahlil, Jalil, Jama, Jamall, Jameel, Jameer, Kabir, Kahlil, Kalil, Kamal, Kamar, Kamarion, Khalif, Maleek, Nadir, Naim, Najee, Nazir, Nima, Quadir, Rakim, Rami, Rashid, Rehan, Sameer, Shakur, Sultan, Tahir, Tarik, Wali, Yasir, Yusef, Zahir, Zaki, Zamir, Zayd, Zymir, Aadil, Aasir, Ahad, Aiman, Aleem, Amarius, Ameir, Amier, Amire, Anis, Aquil, Areeb, Arif, Ashar, Asif, Asir, Aymen, Azan, Azim, Azir, Baraka, Bashar, Belal, Cincere, Deen, Dewan, Ehsan, Faheem, Fouad, Fuad, Gamal, Ghaith, Gibran, Haneef, Hani, Harun, Ibn, Itai, Jabir, Jahan, Jamale, Jamiel, Jamill, Jemal, Jibran, Kalif, Kaseem, Kashif, Kazi, Khiry, Kymir, Lateef, Majd, Maleik, Malick, Maliki, Malyk, Melik, Milad, Mirza, Muad, Murad, Nahmir, Nasim, Nassir, Nayel, Nazier, Nizar, Omarr, Rafiq, Raheen, Rahiem, Rahil, Rahmir, Rajon, Rayhan, Saadiq, Sabir, Sadiq, Sahib, Sahir, Samad, Sanad, Shaheed, Shakeem, Shareef, Sheikh, Shyheim, Siraj, Sohail, Suleiman, Symir, Taim, Tamer, Tamim, Uzair, Yamir, Yassine, Yazeed, Yazid, Zackaria, Zahid, Zahmir, Zakee, Zakhi, Zakir, Zayaan, Zayde, Zidane, Ziyon, Aamari, Aashir, Adeeb, Adis, Ahmaud, Ahmere, Ahmon, Alireza, Aqib, Ashur, Askari, Azam, Badr, Barack, Braheem, Cahlil, Caliph, Damiri, Eldor, Fayez, Ghazi, Haadi, Hady, Harel, Hisham, Idriss, Imir, Itamar, Jabri, Jafari, Jahaad, Jahad, Jahmeir, Jahmier, Jahzir, Jalik, Jameal, Jammal, Jamol, Jaymir, Jhamir, Kais, Kaleem, Kaliq, Kamir, Kamiri, Kasir, Khadir, Khalel, Khani, Khayri, Khazi, Maahir, Mahir, Mahlik, Masud, Matin, Meer, Miraj, Muneer, Naasir, Nahzir, Nas, Naszir, Nazeer, Nazim, Nyeem, Nysir, Omarian, Quamir, Qusai, Raheim, Ramar, Riad, Saed, Safi, Sahmir, Samaad, Samar, Sayid, Taariq, Tahmir, Taym, Wisam, Yacine, Yahmir, Yamin, Zaahir, Zafir, Zaheer, Zaidan, Zameer, Zamier, Ziair, Zymeir, Alija, Amirr, Basir, Yahsir, Ahil, Ahmeir, Aitan, Ajahni, Akeel, Akiel, Akil, Amiris, Anes, Ansar, Anuar, Aqeel, Aswad, Ayad, Azeez, Careem, Daanish, Dameer, Dameir, Dayyan, Fard, Haaris, Hassani, Hatem, Hilal, Hyder, Jabreel, Jaheir, Jahmad, Jahmil, Jamail, Jaser, Javed, Junaid, Kadar, Kasheem, Khaleef, Khamir, Khayir, Khyair, Khyir, Lawan, Maleak, Malike, Milik, Mumin, Nameer, Nasiir, Nazair, Niyam, Odai, Oday, Omair, Omarie, Qaadir, Ramaj, Ramal, Ramil, Rashied, Rasool, Rayane, Rayhaan, Raymir, Reshad, Saafir, Saber, Sadik, Samier, Samin, Sayf, Shahir, Shameer, Sohil, Taheem, Tarig, Taseen, Tymeir, Wahid, Zaeem, Zafar, Zahair, Zahar, Zahi, Zamauri, Zameir, Zamire, Zarif, Zayir, Zhamir, Zyshawn

Names like Amir

Names whose popularity has moved with Amir's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

A is for Amir, our favorite little boy.

A is for Amir…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Amir's letter becomes Amir's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

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Questions parents ask

What does Amir mean?
In Arabic, Amir means "prince" or "commander", the same word as the English "emir". A separate Hebrew name Amir means "treetop".
How popular is Amir?
Amir ranked 105th for American boys in 2025, given to about 1 in every 518 boys. It has been rising since 1986 and hit its peak in 2023.
Is Amir a boy's or girl's name?
Amir is a boys' name; the feminine form is Amira, which ranked 132nd for girls in 2025.
How do you pronounce Amir?
ah-MEER, with the stress on the second syllable.
What names pair well with Amir?
Amira is the natural sister name; brothers with a similar strong, compact sound include Omar, Zaid, Elias, and Kai.