Arabic Names for Boys

An Arabic name used predominantly in North Africa, Achraf is a name with a gentler sound but plenty of grandeur and splendor. Moroccan footballer Achraf Hakimi is a notable bearer. 

Achraf

Despite its disagreeable meaning, this name has a distinctive literary heritage: the eminent Kiswahili writer Shabaan Roberts is called the Shakespeare of East Africa. 

Shabaan

Shaquille O'Neal came almost as close as he could to a Junior when he selected this name for his son. 

Shaqir

A bright, glowing name of Arabic origin, Nibras is connected to light and guidance, via its "lamp", "lantern", and "beacon" meanings. 

Nibras

A multicultural and unisex choice, Matara is both a variation of the Hebrew and Arabic Matar ("rain"), and a Sri Lankan place name ("the great ferry; the great crossing"). Used predominantly in India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Chad, it is a rare name with an approachable feel.
 
From its Arabic and Hebrew roots, it has the cool weather and nature connection, while from its Sri Lankan connections, it is the name of a scared place for Buddhists.

Matara

The brightest star in Ursa Major, this is one of the major navigational stars used by ships.

Alioth

Mozes is a variation of Moses, a name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning "drawn out of the water," referring to the biblical account of baby Moses being rescued from the Nile River. This particular spelling with a 'z' instead of 's' and without the second 's' reflects Dutch, Hungarian, and some Eastern European naming traditions. While the biblical Moses is one of history's most significant religious figures who led the Israelites out of Egypt, the Mozes spelling gives the name a distinctive European flavor. Though less common than the standard Moses, this variant maintains the name's powerful historical and religious significance while offering a slightly different visual and phonetic quality. The name suggests leadership, wisdom, and divine guidance.

Mozes

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

Attractive name, but it does sound feminine. Some have changed it to Nakari.   Although it does not make the U.S. Top 1000, Nakia is among the ten fastest-rising names for both boys and girls.

Nakia

For several years this name ranked high with African-American parents, but it's definitely started to slide. 

Málik

Classic Muslim name representing one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah; Queen Latifah has drawn attention to the feminine form of the name. 

Latif

One of several similar names well used in the Muslim community. 

Khalíl

Yushua is a masculine name that represents a transliteration variation of Joshua, which derives from Hebrew and means 'Yahweh is salvation.' This particular spelling reflects how the name appears in some transliterations from Semitic languages, particularly resembling the Arabic form Yusha or the alternative Hebrew pronunciation. The name maintains the same biblical significance as Joshua, referring to Moses' successor in the Old Testament. Yushua offers a multicultural dimension to the traditional name, potentially appealing to families seeking to honor both Western and Middle Eastern or North African heritage. Though uncommon in English-speaking countries, this variation provides a distinctive alternative that remains connected to the widely recognized original. The pronunciation typically remains similar to Joshua, though some may emphasize the first syllable differently.

Yushua

Ismeil is a masculine name variant of Ismail (or Ishmael), with Arabic origins. The traditional form Ismail appears in both Islamic and Judeo-Christian traditions as the name of Abraham's son. The meaning is often interpreted as 'God has heard' or 'God will hear.' This variation maintains the spiritual significance while offering a slightly different spelling. Though less common than the standard Ismail/Ishmael forms, Ismeil carries the same rich cultural heritage and religious importance. In Muslim communities, the name honors the prophet Ismail, who is considered an important figure in Islamic tradition. The name has moderate popularity in Middle Eastern and Muslim communities worldwide.

Ismeil

Ismeal is a male name that appears to be a spelling variation of Ishmael or Ismael. The traditional name has Hebrew origins meaning 'God will hear' or 'God has heard.' In Biblical tradition, Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar. This specific spelling variant, Ismeal, is quite uncommon and may have developed through regional pronunciation differences or as a unique adaptation by families seeking a distinctive version of the traditional name. While the standard spellings Ishmael and Ismael are relatively common in various cultures, particularly in Muslim communities where Ismail is an important prophet, the Ismeal variant remains rare. The name carries connotations of being heard or acknowledged by divine forces.

Ismeal

A zippy Arabic name with a solid and serious meaning, Nazih has been notably borne by poet Nazih Abu Afach and footballer Amjhad Nazih. 

Nazih

Zuben el Hakrabi (literally "claws of the scorpion") is the traditional name for Gamma Librae, a star system in the constellation of Libra but previously considered part of Scorpio. A rare option as a baby name, it could work for those who like Ruben, Zephyr, Bennett, and Zenith. 

Zuben

Numair

Also appearing Aïssa, this name is largely used in French-influenced countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Belgium, and France itself. It derives from the Arabic Isa, the name by which Jesus is known as in the Quran. While the name did appear in the French Top 500 back in the 1960s, alternative spellings Issa, Isa, and Essa are more widely used. 
 
Aissa is also used as a feminine name, in this case as a variant of Aisha. One notable male bearer of the name, however, is footballer Aïssa Mandi.

Aissa

Ali̇xan is a cool and contemporary looking name, and a recent addition to the Top 60 in Azerbaijan. It combines the Arabic Ali with the Turkic title, Khan, to give the name the powerful meaning of "supreme and exalted leader".
 
Alixan is also the name of a town in South East France, pronounced AH-leek-ohn, with a barely there 'n' in the final syllable. In this case, the name would mean "land of Alexius".

Alixan

 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.

 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.

 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. 

Arabic Boy Names with meanings and popularity, popular with Muslim parents in the US, Britain, and around the world. (Page 11)