Holding steady, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Semir since 1996
Babies named Semir per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 31 |
| 2000s | 106 |
| 2010s | 88 |
| 2020s | 53 |
Meaning & origin
Semir remains a rare given name in the United States, with its first recorded appearance in 1996. As of 2025, the name ranked 9,714th nationwide, translating to approximately 1 in every 244,011 newborns. It reached its highest usage in 2001, and its trajectory has since remained stable, never entering widespread popularity. The name is most common among families with Arabic, Turkish, or Bosnian heritage, though its top states list is empty due to low overall frequency. Semir's etymology connects it to the Arabic root for evening conversation, though some scholars note it may simply be a regional variant of the more common Samir. Its sound is straightforward, often shortened to the nickname Sem.
Semir is likely a variant of Samir, itself from the Arabic root samara (to converse at night). In Turkish and Bosnian contexts, it stands as an independent given name. The name gained modest use among Balkan Muslim communities in the late 20th century.
“Semir” around the world
Where Semir lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sem
Sibling names for Semir
Names that share Semir's style, for a brother or sister.
