girl's name
Saima
SY-muh
- Origin Arabic, Finnish
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 1,842
Saima is a girl's name with two separate origins. In Arabic it means "fasting woman," from sa'im, and it's used widely by Muslim families, especially in Pakistan. In Finland it comes from Saimaa, the country's largest lake, and from a nationalist newspaper of the same name.
- Saima is a name of Arabic, Finnish origin.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 1996, when 71 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 87,827 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1996.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Saima Over Time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 232 |
| 2000s | 483 |
| 2010s | 171 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 27 |
What Saima Means
Saima, in its Arabic sense, means a woman who fasts, a mark of piety during Ramadan. The Finnish name carries the sense of a place, drawn from the great lake in the southeast of the country.
Where Saima Comes From
The Arabic form is the feminine of sa'im, one who fasts, from the root s-w-m, and fasting, or sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam. South Asian Muslims took it up as a girl's name, and it's now widely known in Pakistan and among families in England and Wales. The Finnish name arrived separately in the nineteenth century, when Johan Vilhelm Snellman named his newspaper Saima after Saimaa, the lake. The paper gave the word patriotic weight in Finland, and parents began to use it as a girl's name. The two names have no connection.
Saima in Use
In the Muslim world, the name's link with fasting ties it to Ramadan, which is why it's seen as devout. In Finland it carries a more patriotic and landscape-based feeling.
How Popular Is Saima?
In 2025, Saima was given to 6 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Where Saima Is Used
Figures for England and Wales leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
How Saima Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Saïma | Saïma is a rare spelling of Saima, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 35 times, mostly in France. | 35 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Saima
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Saima Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Saima over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Saima
- Pronunciation SY-muh
Sibling Names for Saima
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Saima — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Saima
What does the name Saima mean?
Fasting woman in Arabic. In Finland it comes from Lake Saimaa.
Is Saima a Muslim name?
In its Arabic form, yes. It's also an unrelated Finnish name.
How do you pronounce Saima?
SY-mah, with the first syllable rhyming with sky.
How popular is the name Saima?
In 2025, Saima was given to 6 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Is Saima a girl's or a boy's name?
Saima is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Saima?
Saima has 2 syllables.
When was Saima most popular?
Saima peaked in 1996, when 71 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Saima a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Saima currently ranks #3,866 in England and Wales. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.