Amir

How to say it

/əˈmɪr/

What it means

Arabic 'commander, prince' (the root that also gives 'emir' and 'admiral'). The Hebrew Amir means 'treetop' or 'crown of a tree' (related to amar, 'to say'). Two distinct roots, same spelling.

Amir has two distinct roots that share the spelling. The Arabic amīr (from the root 'mr, 'to command') means 'commander' or 'prince'; the same root gives English 'emir' (a ruler) and, through Old French amiral, 'admiral.' The Hebrew Amir means 'treetop' or 'crown of a tree' and comes from a different root (amar, 'to say,' with a sense of 'rising up'). Both are common given names in their respective communities. As a US given name Amir has been climbing since 2000 with broader Arab American and Persian American naming trends. It entered the US top 300 in 2010. Amir Khan the British boxer and Amir of Qatar (the title) are contemporary references. Common short: Mir or Ami.

Heads-up notes

• Pronunciation

  uh-MEER, two syllables, stress on the second. Not AY-mir.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

• Amir Khan British boxer, Olympic silver medalist 2004, WBA light welterweight champion

Spelling variants

• Ameer
• Emir

Names with the same feeling

• Amari Eternal, immortal
• Ali Exalted, noble
• Yusuf God will increase
• Omar Flourishing, long-lived
• Kai Sea, or 'keeper of the keys'

See Amir from another angle