Arabic Names for Girls

Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
 Ara was one of the many vowel-heavy two-syllable names popular at the end of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth--it went as high as Number 481 in 1884. It's also used as a nickname for Arabella.

This spelling of Delilah is disproportionately common among the Amish.

Delila

A multicultural choice with a zippy yet elegant sound, Zemira may be interpreted as a variation of the Hebrew Zimri or the Arabic Zamir and Samir. From its Hebrew roots, Zemira may have the wonderful, melodic meaning of "song, music, praise", while from its Albanian origins, it is equally as tuneful, with the meaning "good voice". Alternatively, from its Arabic roots, it could mean "heart, mind, conscience" via Zamir and "companion for the evening talk" from Samir. 
 
Most familiar in Bosnia and Brazil, a recent year also saw it given to 45 girls in the US

Zemira

A soft, strong name, commonly heard in the Middle East, Sahar is an Arabic and Persian name, associated with dawn and beginnings, and a Hebrew name, meaning "crescent", in turn linking it to the moon. Predominantly used as a feminine name, in Israel it leans slightly masculine. 
 
The name would be pronounced as SAH-hahr in Arabic and Hebrew and as sa-HAR in Persian.

Sahar

Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times.  Talitha is also the name of two stars in Ursa Major, where it's related to the Arabic word for "third." Talitha definitely makes a fresh spin on Tabitha or Talisa.

Talitha

Zahira is the feminine form of Zahir.  Some may relate it to the more familiar Zahara.

Zahira

Whether you pronounce it my-a, ma-zha or ma-ha, Maja is an intriguing choice. Sometimes associated with Goya's famous painting "The Naked Maja." As a cognate of Maya, it's a Top 10 name in Slovenia and Sweden and is also popular in Germany and Norway.

Maja

Emira is one of those pan-international names that feels pleasant enough but seems so unrooted to any one culture that it might as well be made up.

Emira

Farida is a Muslim name more distinctive than the Americanized Farah/Farrah. 

Farida

Sharp and snappy but with an endearing meaning Barkat is an Arabic name associated with good luck. It appeared in the 2024 Punjabi song Barkat by Khan Bhaini and was subsequently, as fast-rising choice in the England and Wales charts in 2025. Also used as a masculine name, it shares the same root as Barack or Baraka.

Barkat

Eliya may be thought of as a female variation on the popular Biblical boys' name Elijah or a spelling variation of the popular girls' name Aliyah.  It may not rank among the US Top 1000 and it may cause some spelling and pronunciation confusion, but it does have genuine roots as a name.

Eliya

Nature girl played by Audrey Hepburn in "Green Mansions,"  it now has an old-style bohemian feel. 

Rima

On trend for boys but with plenty of unisex appeal too, the place name Cairo was put on the map for girls when model Beverly Peele chose it for her daughter. Given to around 50 girls each year, it hasn't caught on just yet but with its similar sounds to Kaia and Skyler, it might do in the future. 
 
The name of the ancient city was derived from the Arabic term al-Kahira, meaning "the strong" or "the conqueror", and the name puts in mind a bustling city, museums, and ancient history.

Cairo

This name of a triple star system in Virgo has a New Agey astral feel. 

Zaniah

An Arabic name that can be interpreted as meaning "gift", though ultimately it derives from hada meaning "to guide, to lead". As such, it may be considered a feminine variation of Hadi, a name with significance in Islamic tradition, al-Hadi being one of the 99 names of Allah. The name appeared in the England and Wales Top 1000 in a recent year, while alternative forms could be Hadiya, Hadiyya, and Hadya, along with the Kazakh Ädiya, the Persian Hedieh and Turkish Hediye.

Hadia

A feminine form of Sadi, this Arabic name has the bright and hopeful meaning of "lucky, fortunate". Reflecting a parent's wishes for a child's future, or their feelings towards having a baby, Sadia is familiar in France and the UK and a popular choice in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan, 
 
Notably borne by model and actress Sadia Khan and rugby player Sadia Kabeya, the name may also appear as Saadia or Sa'dia, while a Somali form is Sacdiyo.

Sadia

Concise Nada is a cross-cultural choice with pleasant meanings. In Arabic, it is derived from nadan meaning "dew, moisture", though other possible translations include "caller" and "goodness". As a Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian name, it means "hope".
 
A lovely option, but a word of warning: it is also the Spanish and Portuguese word for "nothing", which might or might not put you off.

Nada

Another astral name, this one relating to one of the largest and brightest stars in the heavens, is popular in Scandinavia and Spain, where it ranks among the Top 50 <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' names</a>. Although still very rare in the US, we think it has serious potential to follow the likes of Luna and Lyra up the charts.

 In Spanish, the name means "meadow" and is taken from a title for the Virgin Mary (La Virgen de la Vega, The Virgin of the Meadow).

Vega

Safiyah is a feminine name of Arabic origin meaning 'pure' or 'chosen friend.' This beautiful name appears in Islamic history as the name of one of Prophet Muhammad's wives, giving it significant religious and historical importance in Muslim communities. The name has variations including Safiya, Saffia, and Safiyyah, with slight differences in pronunciation across different cultures. Growing in popularity in diverse communities worldwide, Safiyah represents purity, wisdom, and moral clarity. The name has seen increased usage in Western countries in recent decades, appreciated for its melodious sound and meaningful etymology. Parents are drawn to Safiyah for its blend of historical significance, spiritual depth, and contemporary appeal.

Safiyah

This lovely Arabic name is gaining popularity 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 unsual for both boys and girls.


Samar

Arabic girl names are used widely around the world, both by parents with Arabic roots and by non-Arabs. Names such as Aaliyah and Layla have become popular in many Western countries.



Layla is the top Arabic name for girls in the US. Along with Layla, 

 include Aaliyah, Kayla, Lila, Lyla, and Leila, Aisha, Imani, Mariam, and Zara. 

Arabic names that are popular in the UK for baby girls include Layla, Zara, Maryam, Lyla, and Aisha, all now in the Top 100 in England and Wales. 

 for girls we see on the horizon include Aziza, Inaya, and Kalila, among many others.

One of the top girl names in Arabic-speaking countries is Zainab or Zeynep, which has many spelling variations and is a tree name, meaning beauty or grace. Other popular Arabic girl names in the Arabic world include Elif, Azra, and Abrar.

Whether you're interested in Arabic names because of your family origins or an interest in this rich and historic culture, this is our complete complement of Arabic names for baby girls, organized by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Arabic girl names with meanings and popularity, including popular and unique Arabic names for girls from Layla to Inaya, (Page 7)

180+ Arabic Girl Names