Sumaya

A well-established Arabic name; its exact linguistic derivation is discussed in sources, and it’s often encountered via the form Sumayyah.

Sumaya is a feminine Arabic-origin name used in Arabic-speaking communities and widely beyond them. In everyday usage it’s often encountered in the romanized form Sumayyah as well as Sumaya, and families may choose the spelling that best fits their local language and documents. From an etymology standpoint, sources differ on fine details of derivation, but the Arabic-script form is commonly written as سمية. In Islamic history, Sumayyah bint Khayyat is an early historical figure, which can be part of why the name remains familiar in some Muslim communities; how prominent that association feels varies by family and region. Pronunciation in English is often soo-MAI-yah. A practical tip is to confirm your preferred Latin spelling (Sumaya vs Sumayyah) for consistency across accounts, records, and travel documents.

Etymology: Often represented in Arabic as سمية (Sumayyah/Sumaya). In Islamic history, Sumayyah bint Khayyat is a known early figure, which contributes to the name’s cultural visibility in some communities.