Rising since 1986, #105 for boys today.
Popularity of Amir since 1954
Babies named Amir per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 144 |
| 1970s | 655 |
| 1980s | 1,843 |
| 1990s | 3,615 |
| 2000s | 8,869 |
| 2010s | 20,481 |
| 2020s | 20,129 |
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.
“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
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.

