Amira Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Amira Mean?

Amira means “princess” in Arabic, in addition to “high-born girl” or “noble lady.” It’s associated with the Arabic “amir,” meaning “commander” or “prince.” In Hebrew, Amira also means “treetop,” “proverb,” or “sheaf of corn.” When spelled Ameira in Hebrew, it means “speech” or “speaker.”

Amira also appears as a Swahili name meaning “princess,” “leader,” and “prosperous.” Amira can also refer to someone as “rich” or “cultivated.”

What Is the Origin of the Name Amira?

Amira derives from Arabic and is a traditional Islamic girl’s name that mirrors the masculine Amir, meaning “leader,” “commander,” and “chief.” It’s based on the Arabic “a-m-r” root, meaning “to command.” It appears in the Quran and means “princess” for girls.

Amira is quite popular in places varying from North Africa to South and Southeast Asia. It’s a traditional girl’s name in Swahili, a language spoken throughout East Africa in more than 14 countries. They include Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Oman and Yemen. In addition to its Muslim roots, Amira is Hebrew and is given to girls born on Shavuot, a day of harvest.

How Popular Is the Name Amira?

Amira currently ranks in the top 115 U.S. girls’ names and hasn’t fluctuated much in the last few years. It has steadily climbed the naming charts since the 1980s and when it entered the top 1,000 in 1998.

Amira is even more common in other English-speaking countries since it ranked 158th in England in 2021 and 144th in Canada in 2022. It’s very traditional for Muslim girls in the Middle East and Asia, ranking 21st in Egypt in 2014. Amira has been a popular name since the 1980s and remains so today.

Throughout Europe, Amira ranked in the top 100 in places from Germany and the Netherlands to Spain, Switzerland, and Hungary.

How Do I Pronounce Amira?

Amira is pronounced “aa-MEE-Rah” in American English and Arabic, and “aa-MAEY-Raa” in British English.

Is Amira a Boy or Girl Name?

Amira is a girl’s name based on the male Arabic name Amir.

Variations of Amira

Find which variations of Amira you like best here.

• Ameara (Arabic)
• Amearah (Arabic)
• Ameera (Arabic)
• Ameerah (Arabic)
• Ameira (Arabic)
• Ameirah (Arabic)
• Amiera (Arabic)
• Amierah (Arabic)
• Amirah (Arabic)
• Amyra (Arabic)
• Amyrah (Arabic)
• Emira (Bosnian)

Nicknames for Amira

These nicknames for Amira use every syllable to their advantage.

• Ama
• Ami
• Amy
• Meera
• Meerah
• Mia
• Mimi
• Mira
• Mirah
• Ria
• Riri

Similar Names to Amira

There are many similar names to Amira to choose from.

• Adriana
• Aisha
• Amal
• Amara
• Amaya
• Amelia
• Amina
• Ava
• Dahlia
• Fatima
• Imani
• Layla
• Luna
• Maryam
• Noor
• Salma
• Samira
• Serena
• Yasmin
• Zara

Middle Names for Amira

Amira needs a middle name, and any of these would work wonderfully.

• Bethany
• Corinne
• Danielle
• Dawn
• Eden
• Eloise
• Faith
• Gabrielle
• Jade
• Josephine
• Lila
• Mae
• Mariel
• Noemi
• Paige
• Rose
• Sabine
• Sadie
• Sage
• Violet

Sibling Names for Amira

Amira’s brother or sister will love their princess sibling too.

• Ahmad
• Amos
• Annika
• Emir
• Hamida
• Imani
• Jamila
• Jennah
• Kaiden
• Leandra
• Lina
• Marika
• Nadia
• Nyla
• Samer
• Soraya
• Zahid
• Zahir
• Zain
• Zephyr

Famous People Named Amira

These examples of famous women named Amira have accomplished a lot in their lifetimes.

• Amira Aisya: Malaysian politician.
• Amira Ben Amor: Tunisian athlete and long-distance runner.
• Amira Ben Chaabane: Tunisian saber fencer.
• Amira Bennison: English Middle Eastern historian.
• Amira Casar: Kurdish-French-English actress appearing in “Error of Youth” (1989).
• Amira Daugherty: American singer, songwriter, and producer known as Amira Unplugged.
• Amira Edrahi: Libyan swimmer.
• Amira El Fadil: Sudanese politician.
• Amira Griselda Gómez: Mexican politician.
• Amira Hass: Israeli journalist.
• Amira Hess: Iraqi-Israeli poet.
• Amira Jazeera: Palestinian pop singer.
• Amira Nowaira: Egyptian academic translator.
• Amira Rasheed: American singer of the dance hit “My Desire.”
• Amira Sartani: Israeli member of the Knesset.
• Amira Selim: Egyptian opera singer.
• Amira Willighagen: Dutch singer and winner of season 6 of “Holland’s Got Talent.”
• Amira Yoma: Argentine political advisor.

Amira in Popular Culture

Discover how Amira appeared in both entertainment and music.

• Amira: Name of a 2014 album by Amira Willighagen.
• Amira: Title of a 2021 Jordanian film.
• Amira Masood: Fictional character in the BBC soap opera “EastEnders.”

Amira FAQs

There are more questions and answers about the girl’s name Amira.

What Does Amirah Mean in the Bible?

Amira is often mistaken for the Hebrew Amariah, which means “promised by God.” It was typically given to priests in ancient Jewish kingdoms. Amariah occurs multiple times in the Bible. One example includes a figure who is one of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar in the Book of Chronicles.

What Does Amira Mean in Swahili?

In Swahili, Amira means ”princess,” “leader,” and “prosperous.” Like its Hebrew counterpart, Amira also refers to natural elements like a “treetop” or “sheaf of corn.” Swahili is a Bantu language spoken by those primarily in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique. Royal names that translate to “princess” are among Swahili favorites for good luck.

Is Amira a Hindu Name?

Amira is sometimes considered a Hindu name, but it derives directly from the Arabic “amir,” meaning “prince.” It means “princess,” which is a traditional Muslim name for girls. Amira commonly occurs in South Asian countries like India, with a large Muslim population. Indian variations also include Ameera and Amyra, which are their preferred spellings.