Sami (name)

Sami or Sammy (Arabic: سامي‎‎, IPA: [ˈsaːmiː], Finnish pronunciation: [sɑmi]) is a given name and surname of different origins and meanings, most prevalent in the Arab world and Scandinavia. When spelled in English, it can be spelled as Sammy and often mistakenly confused as the abbreviated English name .

Sami or Sammy can be an Arabic name meaning "elevated" (الرفعة) or "sublime" (السُّمُوّ), or a Turkish name, a Finnish male name derived from Samuel, or an American name abbreviated from Samantha or Samuel.

When used outside of English speaking countries – specifically amongst non-native Arabic speakers – the name Sammy or Sami is confused with Samee (Arabic for 'one who hears') or Samir (another Arabic name altogether). However, it is in fact an unabbreviated Arabic name derived from the verb samaa (سما) and yasmo (يسمو) which means to transcend. This is from the root samaa (سما,سمو) which means to be high, elevated, eminent, prominent.

The feminine version of this name in Arabic is or (سامِيَة).

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