Fun Facts About the Name Shams
- 448 babies named Shams: U.S. records list 448 babies given the name Shams from 1880 through 2025. Even 106 boys received the name Shams - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.
What Does the Name Shams Mean?
Shams is the ordinary Arabic word for "sun" (شمس), a grammatically feminine noun. It is used as a personal name on its own and as the first element of compound names such as Shams al-Din, "sun of the religion." The word belongs to a Semitic root š-m-s that also appears in Hebrew shemesh and Akkadian shamash, both meaning "sun"; those are cognates of the Arabic word rather than its source. In pre-Islamic Arabia the same word appears in the theophoric name ʿAbd Shams, "servant of the Sun." The literal meaning of the name is simply "sun"; ideas about light, guidance, or inner radiance attached to it are later religious and poetic interpretations, not part of the etymology.
Shams Name History & Origins
The word is old in the Semitic languages, and in ancient South Arabia it was also the name of a deity. Inscriptions from the kingdoms of Saba and Himyar record Shams as a major goddess identified with the sun, so "Shams" began its history as both a common noun and a divine name in that region.
After the rise of Islam, the word was used far more often inside the honorific title-names Shams al-Din and Shams al-Dawla, given to religious scholars, judges, and officials across the Arabic-speaking world and in Persia. Men who bore such a title were frequently referred to simply as Shams, and that shortened form became an independent given name. A well-known example is the wandering dervish Shams-i Tabrizi, who arrived in Konya in 1244 and became the close companion of the poet Jalal al-Din Rumi; Rumi's large collection of lyric poems is titled Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi in his memory.
Usage today differs by region. In Arabic-speaking countries Shams is most often a woman's name, matching the feminine gender of the noun, and it also remains common in compounds. In Persian, Urdu, and Turkish contexts it is more typically a man's name, often a short form of Shams al-Din; Turkish writes it Şems. The related adjective shamsī ("solar") supplies the usual name for the Persian solar calendar used in Iran and Afghanistan, a use of the word rather than of the personal name.
How Popular is the Name Shams?
Shams 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 2025. Its best rank was #3,635 in 2025.
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 | #3,635 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2024 | #3,800 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 2023 | #4,259 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2022 | #6,667 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #5,917 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #5,292 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2019 | #4,756 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2018 | #7,360 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #5,796 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2016 | #9,340 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #8,364 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #9,451 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #12,977 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #19,123 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #9,703 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #14,991 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #15,226 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #13,419 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #16,115 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #16,474 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,511 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #13,871 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #7,227 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #12,084 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #7,494 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #13,724 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #11,913 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #11,995 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #11,861 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,547 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #11,965 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #10,457 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,075 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #6,438 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #8,536 | 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 Shams
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with S
Unique Short Girl Names That Start with S
How the Name Shams 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 find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Shams's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shams's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.