Amir

Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and in a recent year, sat within the Top 100.

Amir also features in the Top 100 in France, Spain, Sweden, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, Germany, and Kazakhstan, while in the UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia, it is a familiar choice.

Part of its appeal may lie in its stately meaning. In Arabic, Urdu, and Pashto, it is associated with sovereignty and can be translated to "prince", "general", "commander" or "royalty". In Hebrew, it is connected to nature, to treetops and to wheat, depending on how it is spelled. Another possibility is the Persian meaning of "immortal" .

The widespread popularity of the name Amir around the world has led to a large number of notable Amirs in history and present. The name Amir was chosen by actor Omar Epps for his son, and is also used as the name of the young narrator and protagonist in the award-winning novel The Kite Runner .

Pronounced ah-MEER.

As of October 2026, Amir ranked #105 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #95 in 2024, Nameberry popularity #984.