The pronunciation is NOT like Semilla in Spanish. My name is Samia and for some reason, only Americans call me Suh-MEE-ya (close to Semilla). It is pronounced SA-mee-ya. I love my name but it is exhausting teaching people how to pronounce what seems like a basic name. French people call me Sonia or Tanya, etc. on the phone constantly. It builds character from a young age to assert oneself and teach adults how to pronounce one's name. It's not necessarily a bad thing.