Amira is an Arabic name meaning “princess”, “leader” or “commander”, the feminine form of Amir, from the root ʾ-m-r, “to command”. A separate Hebrew name, Amira, means “speech”. Islamic scholars have said there is nothing wrong with it as a girl’s name. In 2025, 396 girls in England and Wales were named Amira, ranking 124th.
What does Amira mean?
Amira comes from amīr, a commander, leader or prince, from the root ʾ-m-r, “to command”. In modern Arabic, amīrah is the ordinary word for “princess”. The same root gives amr, “command” or “matter”, and the title Amir al-Mu’minin, “Commander of the Believers”, first used for the caliph Umar.
A different name, also spelled Amira, is used in Israel and means “speech” or “saying” in Hebrew. The two names sound alike but have different roots.
How do you pronounce Amira?
Say a-MEE-ra, with the stress on the long “ee”. The first sound in Arabic is a short glottal stop, barely heard.
How do you spell Amira? Spellings and variants
- Amira: the most popular UK spelling.
- Ameera (common in South Asian families), Amirah, Emira (Bosnian).
- The boys’ form is Amir, which ranked 212th in England and Wales in 2025.
How popular is Amira in the UK?
Amira is rising. In 2025, 396 girls in England and Wales were named Amira, up fifteen places to 124th.
| Spelling | Rank in 2025 | Babies in 2025 | Change since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amira | 124 | 396 | up 15 places |
Women called Amira
Amira is not a name from the Qur’an or the early Muslim community, so it has no single famous bearer in Islamic history. It is chosen for its meaning: a hope that a girl will grow up with dignity, confidence and the qualities of a good leader. Many families like to pair it with the name of a great woman of Islam, such as Amira Khadijah or Amira Maryam.
Islam teaches that real nobility is in character: “The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you” (49:13). That is a lovely verse to share with a child who has a name meaning “princess”. Our guide to teaching kids Islamic values has ideas.
Amira and the Hudhud book
In Hudhud, a girl called Amira is the little traveller herself. Her name and illustrated likeness replace the sample hero, Yusuf, as she flies with a talking hoopoe through the stories of Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (peace be upon them).
A name for a leader
In Islam, leadership means responsibility and care. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock”, and he included women: a woman is a shepherd over her household and children (Sahih al-Bukhari 893).
What middle names go with Amira?
What are nicknames for Amira?
Ami, Mira and Mimi.
What are good sibling names for Amira?
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What does Amira mean in Islam?
Amira is an Arabic name meaning “princess”, “leader” or “commander”, the feminine of Amir. It is chosen for its meaning rather than for a figure from early Islam.
Is Amira in the Qur’an?
No, Amira is not a name in the Qur’an. The root ʾ-m-r (“to command”) is very common in the Qur’an, as in amr, “command”.
Is it allowed to name a girl Amira?
Yes. Islam Q&A, asked about the name Amirah, said there is nothing wrong with it because its meaning does not go against Islam. Islam teaches that real nobility is in character: “The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you” (49:13).
How popular is Amira in the UK?
In 2025, 396 girls were named Amira in England and Wales, ranking it 124th, up fifteen places (ONS). That is about 1 in 720 girls.
Is Amira also a Hebrew name?
Yes, a separate Hebrew name Amira means “speech” or “saying”. It sounds the same but has a different root from the Arabic name.
Is Amira a lucky name?
Islam does not treat names as lucky (Sahih al-Bukhari 5776). Families choose Amira for a meaning to live up to, and the Prophet taught that each person is a guardian responsible for those in their care (Sahih al-Bukhari 893).
What are nicknames for Amira?
Ami, Mira and Mimi are the usual nicknames.
What are good middle names for Amira?
Amira Maryam, Amira Khadijah, Amira Noor and Amira Zainab pair the meaning “princess” with the name of a great woman of Islam.