Samira (also spelled Samirah, Sameera, Semira and Sameerah; Sanskrit: समीर, romanized: samīra Arabic: سميرة Persian: سميرا pronounced [saˈmiːra]) is a Sanskrit, Arabic, or Persian given name. In Sanskrit, Sameera or Samira (Sanskrit: समीरः, romanized: samīraḥ) is a feminine given-name, meaning "breeze, wind," or "Vāyu, the wind deity". Many anglicize their name to Samīr or Sameer.
In Arabic, the feminine name is derived from the root s-m-r ("to spend the night in talking"), ultimately meaning "night-companion", "entertaining companion", "the one with lively conversation". The masculine version of this name is Samir.
In some Arabic and Persian speaking communities, the name honors Semiramis, a historical figure and Princess, and later queen of Assyria. The name has taken on the common demonym of “princess”. It can also be spelled as Semira.
