Arabic Names

A simple yet intriguing name of Arabic origin, Ramil likely derives from the word ramal, translating literally to "sands", however, indirectly, it's associated with the practise of geomancy or earth divination, in which sand, rocks, and soil are used to predict the future. In Arabic, this is known as ilm al-raml ("science of the sand"). 
 
It is also used as a Filipino name, possibly related to the Arabic roots listed above, or a modern invention based on Jamal ("beautiful") and Ramiro ("great judge").

Ramil

The name of the seventh brightest star in the sky, Rigel was chosen by the Danish astronomer, Ejnar Hertzprung, and his wife Henrietta Kapteyn (the daughter of another astronomer) for their daughter back in the early 20th century. Derived for the Arabic Rijil meaning "foot, leg", it appears in the Orion constellation.
 
Sporadically used for girls, it is more consistently, though quietly, used for boys.

Rigel

An upbeat name of Arabic origin, Sadia has the hopeful meaning of "lucky" and "fortunate". Also spelled as Sadia and Saadia, this form is notably used in Malaysia and Indonesia. 

Sadiah

An interesting and unusual choice, with a choral feel. 

Cantara

A stormy Arabic name, notably borne by actress Saiqa Akhtar, Saiqa is notably used in Pakistan. Derived from the Arabic word for "lightning" or "thunderbolt", it was also used as the name of a popular Urdu film released in 1968, the same year the aforementioned actress was born. 

Saiqa

Gentle and warm, Salme is a multicultural name with several different roots. As a Prussian, Estonian, and Finnish name, it is used as a contracted form of the Biblical Salome, lending it the lovely meaning "peace", however, it also doubles up as an Estonian word name, meaning "poem".
 
In the latter case, it has literary ties too, appearing in the 19th-century Estonian national epic, Kalevipoeg by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. Salme (from the Estonian salm) marries the son of the North Star.
 
The name is also used as a spelling variation of the Arabic Salma (or Selma), which ultimately shares a root with Salome. Usually said to mean "safe", it adds to the calm, gentle feel of the name.

Salme

A rare choice that sounds perfectly familiar, Samea could get you to nicknames Sammy, Sam, Mimi, and Mea. Possibly a feminine form of Samuel ("name of God"), a variation of the Arabic Samiya ("high"), or even of Sameah, a Hebrew name meaning "happy". 
 
Used by director David Derrick Jr for his daughter, Samea likely provided the inspiration of Simea, used for a character in Moana 2.

Samea

A stylish sounding choice, which could be a variation of Suhana, a Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning "beautiful" and "pleasant" or of Sahana meaning "to be patient" and "to endure" in Arabic and "to bloom, flower" in Japanese. 

Sehana

A modern sounding choice, Shaidan is in fact an Arabic name, meaning "high ranking", and not simply a member of the Brayden, Hayden, or Aidan family — although it may be used as such. In that case, it would likely mean "little hawk; fine and little" or "gift" from its Irish and Hebrew roots.
 
Other Arabic spellings include Shaydan, Shaidaan, and Shaydaan, while as a modern invention, it may be spelled as Shaiden, Shayden, Shaeden, and so on.

Shaidan

A popular choice in Iraq and Egypt, this Arabic name was notably borne by the foster sister of the Prophet Muhammad. Also appearing as Shayma, Shaima, Shimaa, Seyma, and Chaima, it could mean "beauty marks".



Shaimaa

A summery name which an energetic feel, Shamsa is a variation of Shams, a unisex Arabic name taken directly from the Arabic word for "sun". It was originally borne by a pre-Islamic goddess, related to the Akkadian sun god Shamash.
 
Also interpreted as meaning "little sun", the name is also used among Muslims, as the word shams appears multiple times in the Quran.

Shamsa

Succinct and crisp in sound, Shukri is an Arabic name, related to the more familiar feminine form, Shakira. Notable bearers of the name include cricket coach Shukri Conrad, singer Shukri Jamal, fashion designer Shukri Lawrence, and actor Shukri Yahaya.
 
Alternative spellings include Shoukri, Shoukry, and Choukri while the Turkish form is Şükrü. Shakir is another name with the same root.

Shukri

A virtuous Arabic name with a nice blend of gentle and sharp sounds, Shukri shares its origins with the more familiar Shakira.

Farasha is butterfly in Arabic, which means that to English-speakers, it feels more like a soft feminine name and less like a fluttery animal. Pretty without feeling flighty.

Farasha

Bahr

Siyad is likely derived from the Arabic word sayaad meaning "hunter", "gunner", or "fisherman", making this an occupational Arabic name, equivalent to the popular, outdoorsy English choices, like Hunter, Fisher, and Sawyer. Alternatively, some sources suggest Siyad is a variation of Siad or Sayyid meaning "lord, master, chief", of Sa'd, Suad, and Saad, meaning "blessed, fortunate".

Siyad

A familiar choice in Iceland, the sunny and simple Sunna may be viewed as a nickname for Sunneva or Súsanna, the Icelandic variants of Sunniva and Susannah. As such, it two nature-connected meanings: "sun gift" and "lily" respectively. 
 
Alternatively, it may be considered a mythological and literary creation, adapted from the Germanic and Norse Sunna, the name of a Germanic sun goddess. It notably appeared in The Legend of the Ice People by Margit Sandemo, a series of popular historical novels published from 1982 onwards that likely inspired parents to consider the name.
 
Predominantly used in Iceland, it has also seen usage in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and. Denmark.
 
Outside of Scandinavia however, it may be associated with Sunna(h), an Arabic name meaning "habits, customs", though is used more broadly to describe the traditions and practises provided by the prophet Muhammad for Muslims to follow. As such, it is also used across India and beyond.

Sunna

An alternative transliteration of the Arabic Sunnah, a name that literally means "custom, habit" though is used more broadly to refer to the traditions and practises provided by the prophet Muhammad for Muslims to follow. A spiritually significant choice within Islamic tradition, this form is notably used across India.
 
There is also evidence that Sunna may have been used as an Anglo-Saxon masculine name, possibly meaning "wet, marshy land", though could have also linked to sunne meaning "sun". 
 
Additionally, Sunna is a feminine Scandinavian name, used as short form of Sunneva or Susanna, or as a stand alone name, connected to the "sun".

Sunnah is the name of the traditions and practises provided by the prophet Muhammad for Muslims to follow, and thus this simple yet impactful name is a significant choice among Muslim parents. Literally meaning "habit, custom", it is a unisex name that leans around 80% masculine in Afghanistan, but is largely feminine in Indonesia, Liberia, and Pakistan.
 
Occasionally spelled as Sunna, especially in India, it may also form part of the compound name, Sunnatullah, meaning "the Sunnah of God" or "the way of God".

Sunnah

A variation of the Arabic Tahir, most notably used in North Africa, Tahar was a popular choice in Tunisia in the 1950s and also featured in the French Top 500 around the same period. Pronounced as TA-heer in Maghrebi Arabic and as TA-AR in France, it shouldn't be confused with the similarly transcribed Taha.
 
Notable bearers include poet and writer Tahar Ben Jelloun, actor Tahar Rahim, and boxer Tahar Tamsamani.

Tahar

Arabic names have become much more widely known and used around the world over the past few decades. 

The Arabic name Muhammad has risen to become reportedly the 

 in the entire world when all its spellings are counted together. Muhammad is Number 1 in England as well as throughout the Arab world and also ranks among the Top 100 boys’ names in Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and Australia.

Arabic baby names widely used over the decades

 include Omar and Xavier, Leila (in all its variations) and Zara. Celebrities have helped popularize such Arabic names as Zayn, Aaliyah, Farrah, and Iman.

 in the Top 500 in the US include Amir, Malik, Nasir, Omar, and Xavier. 

 in the US Top 500 include Aaliyah, Amina, Layla, Fatima, and Zara. 

 include Maryam, Noor, Ahmed, and Ali. Muslim parents of every nationality often choose Arabic baby names, so other choices such as Zayn and Zara, Samar and Rashid, Jana and Yousouf are widely used around the world.

Here is our complete list of Arabic names,  ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Arabic names are common in the Muslim community, and include stylish choices such as Layla, Amir, Zara, and Zayn, with meanings and popularity (Page 28)

325+ Arabic Names (with Meanings and Popularity)