Sami

Sami has two distinct origins. As a Finnish name, it is a vernacular form of Samuel, itself from the Hebrew Shemuel, meaning God has heard. In Arabic-speaking and broader Islamic cultures, Sami derives from the Arabic root s-m-w, meaning exalted or eminent, and is also used in Turkish, Albanian, and Urdu contexts. Related forms include Samir, Samih, and the Hebrew-rooted Samuel.