Shams
Shams is an Arabic origin word which is used as a unisex given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
- Arabic
- Persian
- Urdu
- Semitic Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Shams
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Shams is an Arabic origin word which is used as a unisex given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
- Persian
- Urdu
- Semitic Mythology
The Story of Shams
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Shams as a girl name dates back to 1999, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 41 newborns named Shams — #3,730 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 57% of all recorded Shamss. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,730 among girl names with 41 births, rising sharply (+54% over the past five years). In total, more than 380 Shamss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Shams on the record books as a boy name in 1993, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 12 Shamss were born — ranking #6,889 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 39% of all recorded Shamss. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 99 Shamss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Shams
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Shams. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Shams
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shams is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Shims
- Shuns
- Shames
- Chans
- Tians
- Shans
- Shens
- Shawms
- Chums
- Shins
- Chens
- Shines
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shams
What does the name Shams mean?
What is the origin of the name Shams?
How popular is Shams in 2026?
When was Shams most popular?
In which U.S. states is Shams most popular?
Is Shams a unisex name?
What names go well with Shams?
What are nicknames or variants of Shams?
About the name Shams
Shams is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1999 and has accumulated 380 births in the dataset. Shams's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #3,730. Use the chart and map above to compare Shams's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.