The baby name Amir recently entered the US Top 1000, and it influences about a dozen more names in the current rankings.
Thanks to Ella for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME AMIR MEAN?
Of Arabic origin, the baby name Amir means commander or prince.More specifically, it’s another form of the Arabic word emir, which translates roughly to chief.
Here’s a fun twist: our word admiral comes from Amir, too. That’s because the title would’ve been amir-al – commander of. But Westerns misunderstood it as a single word, and a part of the title: amiral.
And then somehow we mixed in the word admirable, and amiral … became admiral because an amiral is worthy of admiration.
Or something like that.
It’s also a separate Hebrew name referring to the treetops.
THE KITE RUNNER
One reason the baby name Amir became more popular name in the West?
Khaled Hossieni’s 2003 novel The Kite Runner told the story of a young man growing up in Afghanistan during the collapse of the monarchy and resulting unrest.
It became a bestseller, ranking on the New York Times list for over two years. In 2007, it was adapted as a movie. British actor Khalid Abdalla played Amir.
Pop culture also gives us:
- Young actor Amir Wilson, known for playing Will Parry in His Dark Materials.
- A Grand Theft Auto character called Yusuf Amir
- Israeli-American comedian Amir Blumenfeld
And that’s just for starters. Plenty of athletes also answer to Amir. Some may have Arabic roots, but many probably lack ties to the Middle East. Instead, they’re probably drawn to the meaning ruler.
It appears as a last name, too.
Taking a step back in history, we find figures like:
- Poet Amir Kror Suri, a poet and famous figure in Afghan history, known for his writing in Pashto.
- Amir Khusrau was a 13th/14th century mystic, poet, and musician and scholar who wrote mostly in Persian.
There are plenty more.
SPELLING & VARIATIONS
Like nearly any Arabic name, multiple spellings are possible. Ameer also ranks in the current US Top 1000.
Straight-up title name Emir is also rising in popularity.
Gender-neutral name Amiri ranks for boys and girls alike.
And on the girls’ side, there’s Amira and Amirah in the Top 1000, with Ameera and Ameerah also in steady use.
And then there’s a long list of rhymes-with-Amir choices:
- Damir
- Jamir
- Samir (and Samira)
- Zamir
Do they share the origin and meaning of the name Amir, just with an extra letter added on? Maybe in some cases. But most of these are separate names with distinctive meanings and origins. Sound helps, though, with all of these ranking in the current United States Top 1000.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME AMIR?
As of 2024, the baby name Amir ranks #95 in the US.
Ameer comes in at #928, while Emir stands at #557.
While lots of similar names are enjoying increased popularity, all eyes remain on Amir.
CROSS-CULTURAL STANDOUT
Finding something that feels traditional, strong, and non-Western without being specifically tied to a single culture or one particular figure can be tough. In that respect, Amir is the perfect name. It’s fresher than Omar, less coastal than Kai.
It’s nickname proof, or at least there aren’t any obvious nicknames, which puts Amir in the same category as Owen and Ezra.
If you’re looking for a name that splits the difference between traditional James and something truly novel, like Jasiel, Amir strikes the right balance.
What do you think of the baby name Amir?
