Sumac: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Sumac – Meaning: the sumac shrub and its dried, tart spice – Origin: Arabic (via Old French) – Gender: Unisex – Pronunciation: SHOO-mak


Sumac is an Arabic (via Old French) unisex name meaning “the sumac shrub and its dried, tart spice”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.

Meaning & Origin of Sumac

Meaning: The sumac shrub and its dried, tart spice.

Origin: Arabic (via Old French).

How to Pronounce Sumac

Phonetic: SHOO-mak   IPA: /ˈʃuːmæk/

Popularity of Sumac

Sumac doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.

Lists That Include Sumac

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