Arabic Names

Name of a son of the Prophet Muhammad, with a particularly positive meaning. 

Qasim

Distinguished by association with renowned African diplomat Salim Ahmed Salim, this name is popular in many variations throughout the Arab world. Its use is growing in the US as well, especially in its Salem version.

Salim

This attractive Arabic name is gaining attention in the US, used equally for boys and girls. Indeed, its sound (it rhymes with the feminine Tamar but ends with the fashionably masculine -ar sound as in Oscar) and most logical nickname (Sam) make it a choice that's at once accessible and distinctive for both genders.


Samar

Simple yet powerful, Roya is a Persian name, ultimately from the Arabic raʾā, meaning "to see, perceive", and is therefore associated with dreams and prophetic visions. Also appearing as Ruya, Roaa, Rouyaa, and Röya, it is familiar in Iran, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan. 
 
Notable bearers include singer Röya Aykhan, musician and archaeologist Roya Arab, producer and director Roya Sadat, and poet and writer Roya Hakakian.

Roya

Used as a twist on the nature name Sierra or the classic Biblical name Sarah, Siara could also be considered an anglicized corruption of the Irish Ciara, meaning "little dark one", or an Arabic name meaning "pure" or "unique". 
 
A fast rising choice in the UK, where it ranked just outside the Top 700 last year, it has also seen a spike in usage in the US, when it was given to nearly 120 girls, compared to 80 the year prior. Make-up artist and content creator Shiny Barbara chose Siara for her daughter in 2025, while The Resort screenwriter Andy Siara bears it as a surname.

Siara

Not related to Zack, Zacky, Zachary, or Zachariah – but many will assume it is. 

Zaki

This elaboration of the Arabic amīn, meaning "trustworthy" or "to feel safe" was a fast riser in 2022, but has yet to crack the Top 1000. Latvian musical artist Aminata Savadogo's 2021 song "It's Written in the Heavens (Milky Way)" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2022 Latvian Music Recording Awards, potentially bringing the name into the spotlight.

Aminata

Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize.
<p<>In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
 Aziz is the male version, as represented by Aziz Ansari, one of the stars of Parks and Recreation.

Aziza

Salman is an Arabic name dating back to Salman the Persian, one of Muhammad's companions. In this country it is strongly associated with Anglo-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses.

 Somewhat related names are Salmon, associated with Salmom P. Chase, U.S. Treasury Secretary under Lincoln and the sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and Zalman, a Yiddish variation of Solomon.

Salman

Sometimes considered a rare feminine form of Simon or Simeon, in turn giving it the meaning "to hear, to listen", Simea also appears in the 2024 Disney movie, Moana 2. In this case, the name is a twist on Samea (the director David Derrick Jr's daughter's name) which could come from the Arabic Samiya ("high") or from the Hebrew Samuel ("name of God").
 
Simea made its entrance to the US stats in 2025 when it was one of the fastest rising debuts of the year.

Simea

Sahari has been in the US stats since 2008, but 2025 saw it more than double in usage when it was given to 70 girls — the highest number of Saharis on record. 
 
A name with a number of possible origins, Sahari could have its roots in the Arabic Sahara ("deserts"), the Arabic Sahar ("morning, dawn"), or in the Hebrew Sahar ("crescent, moon"). Additionally, it is sometimes linked to the Finnish Sakari (a form of Zachary, "Yahweh remembers") and to the Spanish Sarahi (from Biblical Sarai, "princess").

Sahari

A virtuous Arabic name, familiar in Pakistan, Saudi Arabic, India, Nigeria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and England and Wales, Tahir may also be written as Taher, Tahir (with the dotted i) or Tahar. 

Tahir

Pleasant and accessible and not as widely-used as some other <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/192/african-names">African names</a>.

Nabil

Kahlil, spelled in various ways, was first brought into the American consciousness by the poet Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.

Kahlil

A popular Persian name, Reza stems from the Arabic word ridan which translates to "satisfaction, approval", though more figuratively, it may refer to being content with God's will and therefore obedient. Also linked to gratitude and thankfulness, it appears in a variety of forms including Raza, Ridha, and Riza.
 
This form is predominantly used in Iran, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, though it is also popular in The Netherlands, where it ranks in the Top 500. It has been notably borne by the 16th-century artist Reza Abbasi, writer and scholar Reza Aslan, footballer Reza Ghoochannejhad, and "Gucci", and actor Reza Kianian.

Reza

Also spelled Adel, this name of Arabic origin is also used in Urdu, Turkish, and Persian. It comes from the Arabic root adala meaning "to act justly", linking it to honesty and fairness — aspirational qualities for anyone to possess. It is popular in the Arabic speaking world, and is familiar in the UK and France.

Adil

This female form of Sa'id is one of several eminently usable Arabic S names. 

Sadiya

Familiar and handsome, Jamil is a name of Arabic origin. Its literal meaning is "beautiful" and while this can refer to physical beauty, as a Quranic name, it more specifically refers to beautiful behavior, such as patience, kindness, and courteousness. 
 
The name appeared in the latter half of the US Top 1000 from the mid-70s to the early 2000s, while in the UK, it was last in the popularity charts in 2011. The similar Jamal has seen greater popularity worldwide.

Jamil

Eman is a spelling variation popular in some European countries of this gender-neutral Arabic name, made most famous by Mrs. David Bowie. In the US, there were about 60 baby girls named Eman last year to 18 boys. The gender balance is more even for Iman.

Eman

An intriguing unisex name with a celestial meaning, Qamar is a name of Arabic origin. Sometimes transliterated as Kamar or elaborated to Kamaria, it is additionally the source of Comoros, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, and the name of the 54th chapter of the Quran. 

Qamar

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 9)

325+ Arabic Names (with Meanings and Popularity)