Samira

There are two names spelled Samira in Arab countries and in the Indian subcontinent. Although they sound similar, they have two different derivations. One name comes from Arabic سمير Samīra "entertaining companion", and is traditionally given to Arab or other Middle Eastern (such as Assyrians or Kurds) females of both Christian or Muslim families. Another comes from Sanskrit समीर Samīra, "gust of wind/a cool gentle breeze on a hot summer day", and is traditionally given to Hindu females. Both names may also be spelt Sameera/Sameerah in English.

The pronunciation of the Sanskrit-derived name can change depending on the language, as in the Bengali version সমীর Somira. Similarly, variants of the Arabic-derived name can have different pronunciations, as in the Turkish (Semra) & Bosnian (Semira and Samra).

People named Samira

• Samira Ahmed (born 1968), British television reporter
• Samira Damavandi, an Iranian American actress who appeared on State of Mind as well as the Oscar nominated film House of Sand and Fog
• Samira Bellil (1972–2004), French feminist working for the rights of women in traditional Muslim settings
• Samira Besic, singer with the Eurodance group MAXX
• Samira Puskar, Bosnian American author
• Samira Makhmalbaf (born 1980), Iranian film director
• Samira Said (born 1961), Egyptian-Moroccan singer
• Samira Shahbandar, Saddam Hussein's alleged second wife
• Samira Sekander, Syed Shalauddin Sohel's wife

See also

• Samir