Arabic Boy Names
Updated Thu Sep 14 2023
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Arabic boy names include the most popular baby boy name worldwide: Muhammad and its variants. Millions of men and boys bear the name around the globe, and (with variant spellings taken into account) it’s currently the top boy name in Britain and several other European countries.
Muhammad is of course popular in the US as well among Muslim parents. Along with Muhammad, other Arabic names for boys in the US Top 1000 include Ali, Amir, Ibrahim, Malik, Nasir, Omar, Samir, Xavier, and Yusuf. Unique Arabic boy names getting more attention include Amin, Aza, Osman, Rahim, and more.
In the UK, popular Arabic boy names include — besides Muhammad — Yusuf, Ibrahim, and Musa, which is the Arabic form of Moses. Boy names popular in the Arabic-speaking world include Yusuf, Mustafa, and Hamza, which means lion or strong.
Arabic names are rich in history and often have particularly deep and powerful meanings. You’ll find over 100 more awesome Arabic boy names in Nameberry’s full tally, below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Xavier
Origin:
BasqueMeaning:
"new house"Description:
Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house."
- Idris
Origin:
Welsh; ArabicMeaning:
"ardent lord; studious, interpreter"Description:
A name that crosses cultures, Idris was virtually unknown in the US before the emergence of the charismatic actor Idris Elba, first on The Wire and then for depicting Nelson Mandela. Since then, the name has grown with the actor and is a popular choice in the UK and Belgium, and a familiar one in The Netherlands, France, and the US.
- Zayn
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beauty, grace"Description:
Zayn zoomed up the popularity charts thanks to former One Direction member Zayn Malik; it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2016. The name can also be spelled Zain; the feminine version is Zayna or Zaina.
- Omar
Origin:
Arabic, HebrewMeaning:
"flourishing, thriving; eloquent"Description:
A multicultural choice with an appealing open O sound, Omar blends stately strength with familiarity. Also transcribed as Umar, it is a popular choice among Muslim families and features in the name charts across the globe.
Long associated with the twelfth-century Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, Omar derives from the Arabic umr meaning "life", though is typically interpreted as meaning "flourishing, thriving" and "long living", making it an aspirational choice. In Islamic tradition, Omar (or Umar) was the second caliph (a religious ruler) and companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Amir
Origin:
Arabic or HebrewMeaning:
"prince, ruler; treetop"Description:
Concise, familiar and multicultural, Amir enjoys widespread popularity around the world. A common name in the Middle East and across Africa, it has been on the rise in the US since the late 70s, and in a recent year, sat within the Top 100.
- Malik
Origin:
Arabic; GreenlandicMeaning:
"king; owner; wave"Description:
A name with many spelling variations, including Malek, Melik, and Maliq, Malik is a popular name of Arabic and Semetic origin that is used internationally as both a given name and a surname. In terms of meaning, it can be considered a royal name meaning "king", though other sources suggest it is an alternative transcription of Maalik, making "owner, possessor" a more accurate meaning.
- Khalid
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"immortal, everlasting"Description:
Khalid has flirted with the Top 1000 for several decades now, climbing back on in 2015 after more than a decade's absence. Its return could be in part because of the popularity of snapchat personality and rap collaborator DJ Khaled. R&B singer Khalid may also be contributing to its newfound popularity. The name is important in Islamic history thanks to a 7th century military leader. Khalida is the feminine version.
- Altair
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"falcon"Description:
The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.
- Zero
Origin:
Italian from Arabic and SanskritMeaning:
"void"Description:
Zero has been documented as a given name before, but it's largely familiar as a stage name (such as Zero Mostel, born Samuel Joel Mostel) and comic book and anime characters. Seven boys were called Zero is a recent year.
- Yahir
Origin:
Hebrew and ArabicMeaning:
"he will enlighten, he shines; to be visible, shining"Description:
This Hebrew and Arabic name hit the US Top 300 in 2004 via an unusual inspiration: A Mexican pop singer and telenovela star known simply as Yahir, who was himself named after a Brazilian soccer player. Possibly a variation of the Hebrew Jair the Arabic Zahir, Yahir has since declined since its peak in the 2000s, however, it does remain in the latter end of the US Top 1000.
- Ali
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"supreme, exalted"Description:
This is one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah, deemed by Muhammad to be a recommended name for a male child. In this country, it's been primarily associated with boxing immortal Muhammad Ali, known as "the greatest." But Ali is also one of the most popular unisex names for both boys and girls.
- Samir
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"a friend to talk with in the evening"Description:
Samir has a pleasing sound and lovely meaning. One of those distinctive names that can also fit right in—and you could always call him Sam.
- Zavier
Origin:
Spelling variation of XavierDescription:
This phonetic version is occasionally used and removes any confusion about whether the X is fully pronounced or not.
- Rafi
Origin:
Arabic, diminutive of Rafiq; Spanish, diminutive of RafaelDescription:
Most people will assoicate it with the well-known children's singer.
- Khalil
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"friend"Description:
Spelled in various ways, this name was first brought into the American consciousness by the Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
- Rayan
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"land that is lush and rich in water"Description:
Popular Arabic name for boys and sometimes girls too, that's also a term of authority in India.
- Amael
Origin:
Breton, French, Hebrew, “chieftain; grace and favor of God"Description:
Typically spelled as Amaël, this name can be a variation of the popular Breton name, Maël, which ranks in the Top 10 in France. Amaël itself entered the French Top 500 in 2021, and ranked at #337 in a recent year. Meaning "chieftain" or "prince", Amaël (or Amael) would typically be pronounced as A-MA-EHL
Alternatively, Amael may be related to Anael, an archangel in Jewish lore, who is also known as Hanael and Aniel. Anael is associated with the planet Venus, grace, favor, and charm. As such, it would be pronounced ah-mee-ehl or ah-mah-ehl
- Ibrahim
Origin:
Arabic variation of AbrahamMeaning:
"multitudes; father of many"Description:
Well used by Muslim parents across the world, Ibrahim is the Arabic variation of Abraham. Significant in multiple religions and with an international and well-travelled feel about it, Ibrahim has been in the US Top 1000 since the 1990s, and is currently popular in Azerbaijan, France, the UK, and Turkey.
- Muhammad
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"praiseworthy"Description:
There are over five hundred names for the Arab prophet who founded the Muslim religion, making it the most common boys' name in the world and explaining the Muslim adage, "If you have a hundred sons, name them all Muhammad."
- Mustafa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"the chosen one"Description:
Mustafa is a name widely used in Turkey, as it was the given name of the man popularly known as Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Mustafa is also an epithet of the prophet Muhammad and was the name of four Ottoman sultans. Other spellings include Mostafa, Moustafa, and Moustapha.