A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Saima since 1896
Babies named Saima per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1998, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Saima's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 |
| 1900s | 37 |
| 1910s | 96 |
| 1920s | 12 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 97 |
| 1990s | 112 |
| 2000s | 125 |
| 2010s | 89 |
| 2020s | 51 |
Meaning & origin
Saima is a name with multiple possible origins, most commonly linked to Arabic ('fasting woman') and Finnish ('luck, fortune'). Its use in the United States dates back to at least 1896, with a peak in popularity in 1911. After a period of low usage, the name has been rising again since 2017, ranked 10,107th in 2025 with roughly 1 in 178,585 births. The name's modest comeback shows a reappreciation for its multicultural roots and graceful sound.
Saima has two plausible origins. In Arabic, it may be a variant of Sa'ima (صائمة), a feminine name meaning 'fasting woman' derived from the root ص-و-م (s-w-m). Alternatively, in Finland, Saima is a given name taken from the region of Saimaa, itself of unclear etymology, and has been used since the 19th century as a Swedish girl's name. The name also appears in Hindu contexts as a variant of Saima, possibly of Sanskrit origin, though this is less well-attested.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sai, Mimi, Saimi
Variants: Sa'ima, Saema, Saima
Sibling names for Saima
Names that share Saima's style, for a brother or sister.
