Arabic names: 200+ male, female and last names with meanings
209 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest
Classic Arabic names include Muhammad (praised), Omar (flourishing) and Layla (night), and nearly every Arabic name carries a clear meaning, from virtues and nature to faith. Arabic last names are just as telling: Najjar means carpenter, Halabi means from Aleppo and Tamimi means of the Tamim tribe.
Below are 200+ Arabic names, from boy and girl names to last names, each with its meaning and, where it helps, the person or story behind it. You will find names of prophets, Abd names that mean servant of God, Arabic lady names, names inspired by the moon, stars and desert, names from the Quran, classic ad-Din names, and Arabic last names and family names with their Arabic spelling. Spellings vary in English: we use one standard spelling and note the common US spelling where it differs.
Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks
Zayd
Growth, increase; the name of the Prophet's adopted son.
Khabbaz (خباز)
Baker; from khubz, the Arabic word for bread.
Abdulmajid
Servant of the Glorious One.
Abdulrahman
Servant of the Most Merciful.
Hussein
Little handsome one; the Prophet's younger grandson.
Tahani
Congratulations and good wishes; a joyful name.
Arabic name tools
Build a classical name chain and see it in today's formats, find the right spelling of an Abd- name, and see how al- is said before each letter.
Name chain
- Abu Ja'far · kunya
- Muhammad · ism
- ibn Jarir · nasab
- ibn Yazid · nasab
- al-Tabari · nisba
Read it as: father of Ja'far, Muhammad, son of Jarir, grandson of Yazid, from Tabaristan.
- Saudi legal orderMuhammad Jarir YazidPersonal name, father, grandfather, then the family or tribal name.
- Egyptian styleMuhammad Jarir YazidFather's and grandfather's names follow, with no ibn or bint.
- With bin or bintMuhammad bin JarirBin is the everyday form of ibn, son of; bint is daughter of.
- EverydayMuhammadA given name and a family name, the way most Arab countries use names today.
Abd- names
Abdulrahman
Servant of the Most Merciful.
- Written
- Abd al-Rahman
- Said
- Abd ar-Rahman
- Common spellings
- Abdulrahman, Abdul Rahman, Abdurrahman, Abdur Rahman
- Egyptian style
- Abdelrahman
- The names of God are reserved to God, so a person takes Abd before one, or drops al-: Karim and Aziz are names too.
- Abdul alone means servant of the, so it is not a name by itself.
- Arab Christians use Abd al-Masih, servant of the Messiah.
al- and the sun letters
Written
al-Rashid
Said
ar-Rashid
r is a sun letter, so the l of al- takes its sound.
The 14 sun letters, in Latin spelling: t, th, d, dh, r, z, s, sh, ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ, l, n. Most modern spellings ignore the rule and write al-, el- or Al.
Arabic boy names
Classic and modern names used across the Arab world and by Muslim families everywhere.
- Ahmad US #669: Most praiseworthy; a name of the Prophet in the Quran.
- Hassan US #626: Good, handsome; a common spelling of Hasan, the Prophet's elder grandson.
- Hussein: Little handsome one; the Prophet's younger grandson.
- Khalid US #940: Eternal, everlasting; a classic strong name.
- Karim: Generous and noble; Kareem is the more common US spelling. Al-Karim, with the article, is a name of God.
- Tariq: Night visitor; the Arabic name for the morning star.
- Zayd US #633: Growth, increase; the name of the Prophet's adopted son.
- Bilal: Wetting, moistening; the first muezzin of Islam.
- Rayyan: Watered, lush; a gate of Paradise. Used for both genders.
- Faris: Knight or horseman; a chivalrous classic.
- Yasir: Easy, wealthy; an early companion of the Prophet.
- Mustafa US #761: The chosen one; a title of the Prophet.
- Anas: Friendliness, affection; a companion of the Prophet.
- Ziyad: Growth, increase and abundance.
Arabic girl names
Beloved classics and modern names for girls.
- Khadija US #982: Premature child; the Prophet's first wife.
- Yasmin US #959: Jasmine, the fragrant flower; from Persian.
- Malak: Angel; sweet and simple.
- Jumana: Pearl; a lustrous, elegant name.
- Hala: The halo of light around the moon.
- Layan US #831: Soft, delicate; a gentle modern name.
- Shahd: Honey; a sweet and simple name.
- Lujayn: Silver; a bright, shining name, also spelled Lujain.
- Jamila: Beautiful; the feminine of Jamil.
- Maha: Oryx, the wild antelope admired in Arabic poetry.
- Maryam US #351: Arabic form of Mary; the only woman named in the Quran.
Names of prophets in the Quran
Many Muslim boy names honor prophets named in the Quran. Most share roots with Hebrew names familiar from the Bible.
- Nuh: Rest, comfort; the Arabic form of Noah.
- Ismail: God will hear; the Arabic form of Ishmael.
- Ishaq: He will laugh; the Arabic form of Isaac.
- Yaqub: Holder of the heel; the Arabic form of Jacob.
- Dawud: Beloved; the Arabic form of David.
- Sulayman: Man of peace; the Arabic form of Solomon. Also spelled Sulaiman.
- Yunus: Dove; the Arabic form of Jonah.
- Zakariyya: God remembers; the Arabic form of Zechariah. Most US families spell it Zakariya.
- Ilyas: My God is the Lord; the Arabic form of Elijah.
- Isa US #933: God is salvation; the Arabic form of Jesus, a prophet in Islam.
- Salih: Righteous, virtuous; a prophet sent to the people of Thamud.
- Musa US #470: Arabic form of Moses, the person named most often in the Quran.
- Yahya US #616: Arabic form of John, for John the Baptist.
- Idris US #694: Possibly interpreter, teacher; a Quranic prophet linked with Enoch.
Abd names: servant of God
Abd means servant, and the second half is one of the names of God in Islam, so Abdulrahman means servant of the Most Merciful. A name of God can also be used on its own without al-, the, as in Karim or Rashid. Spellings vary, such as Abd al-Rahman and Abdul Rahman.
- Abdullah US #763: Servant of God; the name of the Prophet's father.
- Abdulrahman: Servant of the Most Merciful.
- Abdulrahim: Servant of the Most Compassionate.
- Abdulaziz: Servant of the Mighty; Saudi Arabia's founding king bore it.
- Abdulkarim: Servant of the Most Generous.
- Abdulmalik: Servant of the King, a name of God.
- Abdulhamid: Servant of the Praiseworthy One.
- Abdulqadir: Servant of the Capable, the All-Powerful.
- Abdulhakim: Servant of the Wise One.
- Abdulsalam: Servant of Peace, a name of God.
- Abdulghani: Servant of the All-Sufficient One.
- Abdulmajid: Servant of the Glorious One.
- Abdullatif: Servant of the Gentle One.
- Abdulhadi: Servant of the Guide, a name of God.
Arabic male names meaning virtue and strength
Names that carry a quality to live up to.
- Amin: Trustworthy, truthful; a title given to the Prophet.
- Rashid: Rightly guided; wise in judgment.
- Salim: Safe, sound and whole.
- Sabir: Patient and enduring; steady under pressure.
- Adil: Fair and just; honest in judgment.
- Hakim: Wise; the word can also mean a physician.
- Hadi: Guide, leader; calm and short.
- Hamid: Praiseworthy and commendable; a classic.
- Kamal: Perfection; a polished, classic name.
- Munir: Bright, shining and luminous.
- Mansur: Victorious, aided to victory.
- Nabil: Noble; refined and dignified.
- Jalal: Greatness and majesty; a grand name.
- Anwar: Brighter, more luminous; radiant.
- Aziz: Powerful, respected and beloved.
- Sadiq: True and sincere; a loyal friend.
- Tahir: Pure and virtuous; clean of heart.
- Jamal: Beauty; warm and classic.
Arabic girl names meaning virtue and kindness
Gentle names built on faith, joy and good character.
- Amal: Hope and aspiration; also used for boys.
- Iman: Faith and belief; also used for boys.
- Huda: Right guidance on the true path.
- Rahma: Mercy and compassion; warm and gentle.
- Hanan: Mercy and tenderness; a caring name.
- Wafa: Loyalty and faithfulness to others.
- Salwa: Comfort and solace in hard times.
- Basma: A smile; bright and cheerful.
- Farah: Joy and happiness; also used for boys.
- Sanaa: Brilliance, radiance; a luminous name.
- Karima: Generous and noble at heart.
- Latifa: Gentle and kind; soft-spoken.
- Habiba: Beloved and dear; a term of love.
- Safiyya: Pure; the name of a wife of the Prophet. Most US families spell it Safiya.
- Samira US #723: Companion in evening conversation.
- Nadira: Rare and precious; one of a kind.
- Sakina: Calm, peace and tranquility.
- Hayat: Life; used for girls and sometimes boys.
- Ilham: Inspiration; a creative, uplifting name.
- Bushra: Good news, glad tidings.
Arabic lady names: elegant classics for women
Graceful names that suit a grown woman as well as a baby girl, many of them common among mothers and grandmothers across the Arab world.
- Suad: Happiness, good luck; a classic across the Arab world.
- Samiha: Generous and forgiving; the feminine of Samih.
- Asma: Supreme, higher; borne by a daughter of Abu Bakr.
- Majida: Glorious; borne by the beloved Lebanese singer El Roumi.
- Arwa: Female ibex; borne by a celebrated medieval queen of Yemen.
- Hanaa: Bliss and happiness; a warm, joyful classic.
- Ghaliya: Precious and valuable, like a treasured jewel.
- Hadil: The soft cooing of doves; gentle and musical.
- Halima: Gentle and patient; the Prophet's foster mother bore it.
- Ibtisam: Smiling; a longer, more formal cousin of Basma.
- Jalila: Great, exalted; the feminine of Jalil.
- Fatin: Charming and captivating; a graceful classic.
- Naima: Comfort and tranquility; the feminine of Naim.
- Raghad: Prosperity, comfort and an easy, pleasant life.
- Sabiha: Beautiful and radiant, like the morning.
- Siham: Arrows; a bold meaning with a soft sound.
- Tahani: Congratulations and good wishes; a joyful name.
- Thana: Praise; short, elegant and timeless.
- Zubaida: The best, the cream; wife of the caliph Harun al-Rashid.
- Yusra: Ease and wealth; borne by the Olympic refugee swimmer Mardini.
Arabic names from nature and the sky
Moon, stars, rain, flowers and desert animals are rich sources of Arabic names.
- Qamar: Moon; used for girls and boys.
- Badr: Full moon; a classic boy name.
- Hilal: Crescent moon, the sign of a new month.
- Najma: Star; the feminine form of Najm.
- Shihab: Shooting star or meteor.
- Thurayya: The Pleiades star cluster. Say thu-RAY-ya.
- Sahar: Dawn, the first light of morning.
- Fajr: Dawn; also the name of the dawn prayer.
- Sama: Sky; open and serene.
- Shams: Sun; used for girls and boys.
- Dima: Downpour, a soaking rain.
- Ghayth: Rain; a name for welcome relief, also spelled Ghaith.
- Nada: Dew; the word also means generosity.
- Nasim: Breeze; used for boys and girls.
- Warda: Rose; an Arabic word with Persian roots.
- Rawda: Meadow or garden in bloom.
- Reem: White antelope, a symbol of grace in poetry.
- Rasha: Young gazelle; graceful and light.
- Asad: Lion; strong and steadfast.
- Layth: Lion; a bold, short name, usually spelled Laith in the US.
- Haidar: Lion; an epithet of Ali. Also spelled Haider.
- Fahd: Panther; also the name of a Saudi king.
Names from the Quran and faith
Names that echo words and places in the Quran.
- Jannah: Paradise; literally a garden.
- Firdaus: Paradise; from an old Persian word for a walled garden. Used for girls and boys.
- Kawthar: Abundance; the name of a river in Paradise.
- Tasnim: A spring of water in Paradise.
- Ayat: Signs; also the verses of the Quran.
- Dua: Prayer; a heartfelt call to God.
- Isra: Travel by night; recalls the Prophet's Night Journey.
- Taha: From the letters ta and ha that open a Quran chapter.
- Yasin: From the letters ya and sin that open a Quran chapter.
- Furqan: Criterion between right and wrong; a name for the Quran.
- Ihsan: Charity and good deeds; excellence in faith.
- Tuba: Blessedness; a joyful, hopeful name.
Classic ad-Din names
These compound names pair a quality with ad-Din, of the faith. Many famous rulers and scholars bore them.
- Salah ad-Din: Righteousness of the faith; the source of Saladin.
- Nur ad-Din: Light of the faith; borne by a famous ruler of Syria.
- Jamal ad-Din: Beauty of the faith; elegant and scholarly.
- Shams ad-Din: Sun of the faith; an honorific of the Persian poet Hafez.
- Izz ad-Din: Glory of the faith; dignified and strong.
- Sayf ad-Din: Sword of the faith; borne by Mamluk sultans.
- Khayr ad-Din: Goodness of the faith; the admiral Barbarossa's name.
- Ala ad-Din: Excellence of the faith; the root of Aladdin.
- Kamal ad-Din: Perfection of the faith.
- Najm ad-Din: Star of the faith; the name of Saladin's father.
- Zayn ad-Din: Beauty of the faith; the source of the name Zinedine.
- Burhan ad-Din: Proof of the faith.
Arabic last names from trades
Many Arabic last names began as the family trade, often with the prefix Al-, meaning the. Each name is shown in Arabic script too.
- Najjar (نجار): Carpenter; common in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine.
- Khayyat (خياط): Tailor; an occupational surname common in the Levant.
- Sabbagh (صباغ): Dyer of cloth; a family name of Syria and Lebanon.
- Hallaq (حلاق): Barber; from the Arabic verb for shaving hair.
- Attar (عطار): Perfumer or druggist; also the Persian poet Farid ud-Din's pen name.
- Tahhan (طحان): Miller, one who grinds grain into flour.
- Khabbaz (خباز): Baker; from khubz, the Arabic word for bread.
- Jazzar (جزار): Butcher; the nickname of Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar, Ottoman governor at Acre.
- Dabbagh (دباغ): Tanner of leather hides; an old craft surname.
- Sayegh (صائغ): Goldsmith or jeweler; common among Lebanese and Syrian families.
- Bitar (بيطار): Veterinarian or farrier who shod and treated horses.
- Nahhas (نحاس): Coppersmith; from nuhas, the Arabic word for copper.
- Zayyat (زيات): Oil presser or seller; from zayt, the Arabic word for oil.
- Katib (كاتب): Scribe or clerk; from the Arabic verb meaning to write.
- Khatib (خطيب): Preacher who gives the Friday sermon; very common in the Levant.
Family names in Arabic: places, tribes and ancestors
Other Arabic family names say where a family came from, which tribe it belongs to or which famous ancestor it descends from.
- Halabi (حلبي): From Aleppo, the Syrian city called Halab in Arabic.
- Masri (مصري): Egyptian; from Misr, the Arabic name for Egypt.
- Baghdadi (بغدادي): From Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
- Dimashqi (دمشقي): From Damascus, the Syrian capital called Dimashq in Arabic.
- Maghribi (مغربي): From the Maghreb, northwest Africa; al-Maghrib, the west, is also the Arabic name for Morocco.
- Hijazi (حجازي): From the Hijaz, the region of Mecca and Medina.
- Yamani (يماني): From Yemen; borne by the Saudi oil minister Ahmed Zaki.
- Nabulsi (نابلسي): From Nablus, an old city in the West Bank.
- Qudsi (قدسي): From Jerusalem, called al-Quds, the holy, in Arabic.
- Hashemi (هاشمي): Of Banu Hashim, the Prophet's clan; Jordan's royal family descends from it.
- Qurashi (قرشي): Of the Quraysh, the Meccan tribe of the Prophet.
- Tamimi (تميمي): Of Banu Tamim, one of Arabia's largest tribes.
- Ansari (أنصاري): Descendant of the Ansar, the Prophet's helpers in Medina.
- Qahtani (قحطاني): Of Qahtan, the legendary ancestor of the southern Arabs.
- Kindi (كندي): Of the Kinda tribe, home of the first great Arab philosopher.
- Abbasi (عباسي): Descendant of al-Abbas, the Prophet's uncle and ancestor of caliphs.
- Husseini (حسيني): Descendant of Hussein, the Prophet's grandson.
- Bakri (بكري): Descendant of Abu Bakr, the first caliph.
How to pick the right name
Know the story behind the name
Many Arabic names honor a prophet, a companion of the Prophet or a quality. Learn the story so you can share it with your child one day.
Pick one spelling and keep it
Arabic names have many English spellings, such as Muhammad, Mohammed and Mohamed. Choose the one that fits your family and region, and use it everywhere.
Listen to the Arabic sound
Some letters, like kh and the deep h, have no exact English match. Hearing a native speaker say the name helps you say it with confidence.
Check the full name
Arabic naming often runs given name, father's name, then family name. Make sure the first name flows with the rest.
Save this list for later
Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.
Arabic names: the five parts of a name, names of God, and the spellings Americans use
By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names
A classical Arabic name was a chain: a given name, a father's name with ibn or bint, often a "father of" name, a nickname and a name for the family's tribe, trade or town. Most Arabic last names today grew from those last parts, which is why Najjar means carpenter and Halabi means from Aleppo.
Arabic names also travel in many English spellings. In the US, Muhammad, Mohamed, Mohammad and Mohammed went to 3,056 boys in 2025, which together would rank about No. 118. The tools above build a name chain, explain Abd- names and show how al- changes sound.
- Step 1Start with the meaningVirtues, nature, prophets or faith: the sections are sorted that way.
- Step 2Pick one spellingThe notes give the common US spelling where it differs.
- Step 3Build the full nameGiven name, ibn or bint and the father's name, then the family name.
- Step 4Know the names of GodAbd- names and names used without al- honor them.
The five parts of a classical Arabic name
| Part | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ism | The given name | Omar |
| Nasab | Lineage: ibn, son of, or bint, daughter of | ibn Khalid |
| Kunya | Abu, father of, or Umm, mother of, a child's name | Abu Yusuf |
| Laqab | An epithet or title | al-Faruq |
| Nisba | Tribe, clan, trade or place of origin | al-Halabi, from Aleppo |
Source: Wikipedia, Arabic name. Arab Christians generally use the same names, except explicitly Islamic ones such as Muhammad, and add Arabic forms of saints' names such as Butrus, Peter.
Names of God, prophets and the Quran
- Names of God are honored two ways. Because the names of God are reserved to God, people take them either with Abd-, servant of, as in Abdulkarim, or without the article al-, as in Karim (Wikipedia).
- Musa is the person the Quran names most: Moses is mentioned by name 136 times (Wikipedia).
- Maryam is the only woman named in the Quran, and its 19th surah is named after her (Wikipedia).
- ad-Din names began as titles. Saladin's birth name was Yusuf; Salah ad-Din, righteousness of the faith, was an honorific (Behind the Name).
The spellings Americans use
- In England and Wales, Muhammad was the No. 1 boys' name in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (ONS data, via Behind the Name). In the US, Layla was No. 36 for girls in 2025 and Muhammad No. 239.
- Last names follow given names. The most common Arabic-origin surnames in the 2020 US Census are Ali (No. 366), Ahmed (No. 437) and Mohamed (No. 827); trade names are far rarer, with Najjar at No. 13,170 (Census Bureau).
| Spelling on this page | US babies | Common US spelling | US babies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zakariyya | 12 | Zakariya | 189 |
| Layth | 59 | Laith | 266 |
| Karim | 198 | Kareem | 383 |
| Sulayman | 61 | Sulaiman | 107 |
| Safiyya | 15 | Safiya | 168 |
| Lujayn | 6 | Lujain | 36 |
Source: US Social Security Administration. The same English spelling can also stand for two different Arabic names, as Rashid does, so write the Arabic spelling on official papers.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Arabic boy name?
Muhammad, meaning praised. It was the top boys' name in England and Wales in 2023, 2024 and 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics. In the US it ranked No. 239 in 2025, but Muhammad, Mohamed, Mohammad and Mohammed together went to 3,056 boys, enough for about No. 118.
What are beautiful Arabic girl and lady names?
Layla (night), Noor (light), Yasmin (jasmine), Amira (princess) and Jumana (pearl) are lovely for girls. Elegant classics for women include Suad (happiness), Halima (gentle) and Zubaida (the best, the cream).
What does Abd mean in Arabic names?
Abd means servant. In Muslim names it is paired with one of the names of God, as in Abdullah (servant of God) or Abdulrahman (servant of the Most Merciful). Arab Christians use names like Abd al-Masih, servant of the Messiah.
Are Arabic names and Muslim names the same?
Not exactly. Many Muslim names are Arabic, but Muslims around the world also use Persian, Turkish, Urdu and other names, and Arab Christians use Arabic names too.
What are common Arabic last names?
Common Arabic last names include Najjar (carpenter), Khatib (preacher), Halabi (from Aleppo), Masri (Egyptian) and Tamimi (of the Tamim tribe). Most come from a trade, a home city, a tribe or an ancestor, often with the prefix Al-, meaning the.
Who is the only woman named in the Quran?
Maryam, the mother of Isa (Jesus). She is the only woman named in the Quran, and its 19th surah, Maryam, is named after her. Maryam was No. 351 for US girls in 2025.
Can you name a child one of the names of God?
Yes, in two accepted ways: with Abd-, servant of, as in Abdulkarim, or without the article al-, as in Karim. The name with al- is reserved for God.
What is the most common Arabic last name in the US?
Ali, No. 366 in the 2020 US Census with 84,529 people, followed by Ahmed and Mohamed. All three come from given names; trade names such as Najjar are much rarer.
More by origin and generators
- Turkish names140 names. Turkish names with meanings: girl names like Asel and Eylül, boy names like Alparslan and Kerem, unisex names and names from nature, with pronunciation.
- Persian names134 names. Persian names with meanings: 130+ Persian female and male names, Iranian favorites like Nazanin and Dariush, Shahnameh heroes, royal names and nature names.
- Egyptian names200 names. Egyptian names with meanings: modern girl and male names, Egyptian surnames and last names like El-Masry, Coptic names, and old names of pharaohs and queens.
- Indian names208 names. Indian names with meanings: common and popular names from India, female and male names, Hindu and Sanskrit names, Tamil and Sikh names, and Indian surnames.
- Biblical names184 names. Biblical names for boys and girls with meanings, languages and the book where each person appears, from Noah and Abigail to rare female biblical names.
- African names181 names. African names with meanings: names for boys and girls, African women's names, Nigerian names in Yoruba and Igbo, plus Akan, Swahili, Zulu and Amharic names.
- Names that mean light106 names. Names that mean light for girls and boys, like Lucy, Noor and Uriel, plus unisex names and names meaning bright, radiant or first light, with origins.
- Names that mean moon82 names. Names that mean moon for girls and boys, like Luna, Selene and Chandra, plus unisex picks, moon goddesses and moonlight names, each with its origin.
- Angelic names85 names. Angelic names for girls and boys: names that mean angel like Angela and Malak, archangel names like Gabriel and Raphael, and heavenly names, with meanings.