Spellings vary between languages and communities, for example Hamid and Hameed. Meanings below are commonly given meanings and can differ between sources.
Many prophets' names come from other languages, so their meanings are drawn from those languages and sources differ.
124 names.
Arabic Boys' Names
A
- Abdullahعَبْدُ اللَّهServant of Allah
- Abdur-Rahmanعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَٰنServant of the Most Merciful
- AdamآدَمMade from Earth
- AhmadأَحْمَدMost Praiseworthy
- AliعَلِيّExalted, Noble
- AmirأَمِيرPrince, commander
- AnasأَنَسFriendliness, affection
- AymanأَيْمَنBlessed, fortunate
- AyyubأَيُّوبName of Prophet Job, known for patience
B
- BasilبَاسِلBrave, courageous
- BilalبِلَالMoisture, Freshness
D
- DaudدَاوُودBeloved (name of Prophet David)
F
- FahadفَهْدLeopard
- FaisalفَيصَلDecisive, a judge
H
- HadiهَادِيGuide, one who leads to the right path
- HaithamهَيْثَمYoung eagle
- HakimحَكِيمWise
- HamidحَامِدOne who praises Allah
- HamzaحَمْزَةStrong, Steadfast
- HarunهَارُونName of Prophet Aaron
- HashimهَاشِمGenerous, one who feeds others
- HassanحَسَنBeautiful, Handsome
- HudهودOne who returns to Allah
- HusseinحُسَيْنBeautiful, Handsome (diminutive)
I
- IbrahimإِبْرَاهِيمFather of Nations
- IdrisإِدْرِيسProphet Idris; the meaning of the name is debated
- IlyasإِلْيَاسName of Prophet Elijah
- ImranعِمْرَانProsperous, flourishing
- IsaعِيسَىGod is Salvation
- IshaqإِسْحَاقName of Prophet Isaac
- IsmailإِسْمَاعِيلGod hears (name of Prophet Ishmael)
J
- JabirجَابِرOne who comforts or restores
- JamalجَمَالBeauty
K
- KarimكَرِيمGenerous, noble
- KhalidخَالِدEternal, Immortal
L
- LaithلَيْثLion
- LuqmanلُقْمَانThe wise man named in the Qur'an
M
- MalikمَالِكKing, owner
- MansurمَنْصُورVictorious, given help
- MuhammadمُحَمَّدPraised, Commendable
- MusaمُوسَىDrawn from Water
- MustafaمُصْطَفَىChosen
N
- NabilنَبِيلNoble
- NasirنَاصِرHelper, supporter
- NuhنُوحRest, Comfort
O
- OmarعُمَرFlourishing, Long-Lived
R
- RashidرَاشِدRightly guided
- RayyanرَيَّانLush, Luxuriant
- RidwanرِضْوَانPleasure, approval
S
- SaadسَعْدGood fortune, happiness
- SalihصَالِحRighteous, good
- SalmanسَلْمَانSafe, secure
- SamirسَمِيرCompanion in evening conversation
- ShuaybشعيبGood-natured, one who shows the right path
- SulaymanسُلَيْمَانMan of Peace
T
- TalhaطَلْحَةA kind of tree
- TariqطَارِقMorning Star, One Who Knocks
Y
- YahyaيَحْيَىHe lives (name of Prophet John)
- YaqubيَعْقُوبName of Prophet Jacob
- YunusيُونُسName of Prophet Jonah
- YusufيُوسُفGod Increases
Z
- ZakariyaزَكَرِيَّاName of Prophet Zechariah
- ZaydزَيْدGrowth, Abundance
- ZiyadزِيَادGrowth, increase
Arabic Girls' Names
A
- AaliyahعَالِيَةExalted, lofty
- AfnanأَفْنَانBranches of a tree
- AishaعَائِشَةLiving, Prosperous
- AminaآمِنَةTrustworthy, Faithful
- AmiraأَمِيرَةPrincess, Leader
- AnisaأَنِيسَةFriendly, companion
- AreejأَرِيجSweet fragrance
- AsiyaآسِيَةThe believing wife of Pharaoh named in the Qur'an
- AsmaأَسْمَاءSupreme, Lofty
- AyaآيَةSign, a verse of the Qur'an
B
- BasmaبَسْمَةSmile
D
- DuhaضُحَىMorning light, the name of a surah
F
- FatimahفَاطِمَةOne Who Weans / Abstains
G
- GhadaغَادَةGraceful, soft young woman
H
- HabibaحَبِيبَةBeloved
- HafsaحَفْصَةYoung Lioness
- HajarهَاجَرWife of Prophet Ibrahim and mother of Ismail
- HalimaحَلِيمَةGentle, patient
- HanaهَنَاءHappiness, Bliss
- HananحَنَانCompassion, tenderness
- HawaحَوَّاءEve, the first woman
I
- IlhamإِلْهَامInspiration
- ImanإِيْمَانFaith
- InayaعِنَايَةCare, Concern, Solicitude
J
- JamilaجَمِيلَةBeautiful
- JannahجَنَّةParadise, garden
K
- KawtharكَوْثَرAbundance, the name of a surah
- KhadijahخَدِيجَةEarly Baby, Premature
L
- LaylaلَيْلَىNight, Dark Beauty
- LinaلِينَةTender, gentle
- LubnaلُبْنَىA fragrant tree (storax)
M
- MahaمَهَاOryx, a symbol of beautiful eyes
- MalikaمَلِكَةQueen
- MarwaمَرْوَةOne of the two hills, Safa and Marwa, beside the Kaaba
- MaryamمَرْيَمName of the mother of Isa; a surah is named after her
N
- NadiaنَادِيَةCaller; fresh, dewy
- NajwaنَجْوَىPrivate, quiet conversation
- NawalنَوَالGift, generosity
- NoorنُورLight, Radiance
- NusaybahنُسَيْبَةName of a companion known for her courage
R
- RahmaرَحْمَةMercy
- RashaرَشَاYoung gazelle
- ReemرِيمWhite gazelle
- RidaرِضَاContentment, satisfaction
- RumaysaرُمَيْصَاءName of a respected female companion of the Prophet ﷺ
- RuqayyaرُقَيَّةName of a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ
S
- SafaصَفَاPurity, clarity
- SafiyyahصَفِيَّةPure, Best Friend
- SakinaسَكِينَةTranquillity, peace
- SalmaسَلْمَىPeaceful, safe
- SamiraسَمِيرَةCompanion in evening conversation
- SanaسَنَاRadiance, brilliance
- SaraسَارَةPrincess, Noble Lady
- ShaimaشَيْمَاءOne with a beauty mark; of good character
- SumayaسُمَيَّةHigh Above
W
- WafaوَفَاءLoyalty, faithfulness
Y
- YasminيَاسَمِينJasmine Flower
- YumnaيُمْنَىGood fortune, blessing
Z
- ZahraزَهْرَةFlower, Radiance
- ZaynabزَيْنَبFragrant Flower
What do Arabic names mean?
Most Arabic names are ordinary Arabic words, so the meaning is built into the name. Noor means light, Layla means night, Karim means generous and Laith means lion. Names often describe a quality such as honour or patience, something in nature such as a gazelle or a flower, or a person remembered in history.
Arabic is written in its own script, so names are transliterated into English letters and spellings vary. Karim and Kareem, or Aisha and Ayesha, are the same name written in different ways.
Arabic names and Islamic names
Arabic is spoken by Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths across the Arab world, so not every Arabic name has a religious meaning. This list includes names with a link to Islam, such as prophets, people named in the Qur'an and companions of the Prophet ﷺ, and names that are simply beautiful Arabic words. For names with a religious connection, see our guide to Islamic names.
Feminine forms of Arabic names
Many Arabic girls' names are formed from a boy's name by adding the ending -a or -ah. Karim becomes Karima, Jamil becomes Jamila, Hamid becomes Hamida and Salih becomes Salihah. The meaning stays close to the original, in its feminine form.
How to choose an Arabic name
Many parents look for a name with a good meaning, a name that is easy to pronounce where they live, or a name linked to a family member. It helps to check what the name means in your local language and to read it aloud. If you are choosing a family name or surname, see our guide to Arabic last names.
Arabic Names FAQ
What are some beautiful Arabic names?
Beautiful Arabic names for girls include Noor (light), Layla (night), Zahra (flower), Amira (princess) and Salma (peaceful). For boys they include Karim (generous), Nabil (noble), Laith (lion) and Hamid (one who praises Allah). Most are ordinary Arabic words, so each name carries a clear and positive meaning.
What do Arabic names usually mean?
Arabic names are usually ordinary words, so the name carries its meaning. Many describe qualities such as generosity, bravery or faith, some come from nature such as lions, gazelles and flowers, and others are the names of prophets, companions and people in the Qur'an. Meanings can differ between sources, especially for names borrowed from other languages.
How do you pronounce Arabic names?
Say each vowel clearly and give every syllable similar weight. Some Arabic sounds have no English equivalent, such as ayn, the throaty sound at the start of Ali and Aisha, and the deep q in Qasim. Listening to a native speaker is the best guide, because English spellings are only approximations of the sound.
Can non-Arabs use Arabic names?
Yes. Arabic names are used by Muslims all over the world, including people who do not speak Arabic, and by Arab Christians and others. It is worth checking the meaning and how the name sounds in your own language, so that it is easy to say and has no unwanted meaning where you live.
How are girls' names formed from boys' names in Arabic?
Many girls' names are made by adding a feminine ending, usually -a or -ah, to a boy's name. Karim becomes Karima, Jamil becomes Jamila, Hamid becomes Hamida and Salih becomes Salihah. The girl's name keeps the same root and a closely related meaning, although some names, such as Layla and Noor, are used on their own.
For other questions, read our answers to common questions about Islam.
Last updated:
This page is a general guide. For your own situation, please consult a qualified scholar.