Fun Facts About the Name Sahira
- 595 babies named Sahira: U.S. records list 595 babies given the name Sahira from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Sahira Mean?
Sahira is an Arabic feminine name meaning "wakeful," "vigilant," or "one who stays awake at night." It comes from the Arabic root s-h-r (سهر), specifically the feminine active participle sāhira (ساهرة) of the verb sahira, "to stay awake, to keep vigil, to be sleepless." The form follows the common Arabic feminine participle pattern fāʿila, which turns an action or state into a descriptive noun. In this literal sense, the name describes a woman who is awake or watchful.
Because Arabic ḥ (ح) and h (ه) are both commonly written as "h" in English, the spelling Sahira can also be confused with sāḥira (ساحرة), "sorceress" or "enchantress," from the different root s-ḥ-r (سحر), "magic." The given name is normally understood from sāhira, "wakeful," but the overlap in romanization means some readers encounter the other meaning. The name is not a variant of Sarah or Sahara; those names have separate origins and meanings.
Sahira Name History & Origins
Sahira comes from the Arabic word sāhira, the feminine form of sāhir, "one who stays awake." Arabic uses many such participles as personal names, so a descriptive word for a wakeful or vigilant person became a woman's name. The masculine form Sahir is also used as a name, and the spelling Sahirah reflects the Arabic feminine ending -ah more formally; Sahira is the simplified English form.
The root s-h-r is associated with staying awake at night, keeping vigil, and sleeplessness; the related noun sahar (سَهَر) means wakefulness. In the Quran, the word al-sāhira appears in Surah An-Nazi'at (79:14) as a name for the earth or the plain of gathering on the Day of Judgment; this is a Quranic use of the word, not evidence that Sahira itself was a common personal name at that time. The name is found in Arabic-speaking countries and in Muslim communities in South Asia, where spellings such as Sahirah or Sahera also occur.
How Popular is the Name Sahira?
Sahira has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #4,541 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,777 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #6,334 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #4,541 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #6,170 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #6,635 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #4,976 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2019 | #8,525 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #6,742 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #8,703 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #9,329 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #10,034 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #6,171 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #8,501 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #6,298 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2011 | #7,720 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #7,452 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #7,995 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #7,348 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #6,052 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #6,557 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #7,429 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #7,328 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #7,509 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,337 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #5,774 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #5,898 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #8,125 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #6,015 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #8,216 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,478 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #6,949 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #11,518 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #9,363 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #11,441 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #9,185 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #8,372 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #6,080 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #12,802 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #10,353 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Sahira
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with S
How the Name Sahira Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Sahira's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sahira's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.