Shama

Meaning of Shama

Shama is a feminine given name of Arabic origin, etymologically rooted in the noun شَمْعَة (shama), which denotes “candle” or “flame” and retains a parallel semantic field in both Urdu and Hindi; in each of these languages it is articulated /ʃaˈma/ with stress on the second syllable. Historically present in Indo-Islamic literary corpora, the term originally described physical luminescence and subsequently acquired symbolic associations of guidance and clarity within devotional and poetic contexts, associations that persist in contemporary usage. In the United States, Shama occupies a niche position in naming registers—recorded sporadically since the late 1960s with annual occurrences predominantly in single digits and rankings generally between the 700s and 900s—underscoring its character as an uncommon yet enduring appellation. Its uniform phonetic profile and cross-cultural resonance render Shama a technically precise choice for parents seeking a name that bridges Arabic and South Asian heritages while emphasizing the thematic qualities of light and direction.

Pronunciation

Arabic

• Pronunced as SHA-mah (/ʃaˈma/)

Indian (Hindi)

• Pronunced as SHAH-mah (/ʃaˈma/)

• Shamia
• Shayma
• Shaima
• Shima
• Shamae
• Shamyra