Arabic Names for Boys

A name with a gentler sound but a meaning full of grandeur, Ashraf is related to the names Sharif, Achraf, and Eşref, all of which come from the same "noble" root, sharufa.

Ashraf

A North African choice, particularly popular in Tunisia and Syria. 

Habib

Johari is derived from the Arabic word jawhar, which evolved from the Persian word gouhar, both referring to gemstones. With its glitzy meaning and on-trend sounds, Johari has been quietly on the rise for boys in the US, with 32 boys given the name in a recent year. 
 
Jawahir, Jawaharlal, and Gohar are all related names.

Johari

Kadir is derived from Qadir (many Arabic K names are phonetic versions of Q-starting names); a classic Muslim name reflecting one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah. 

Kadir

Ebrahim is a variant of Ibrahim, which is the Arabic form of Abraham. The name traces its origins to the ancient Hebrew name Avraham, meaning 'father of many nations' or 'exalted father.' Ebrahim holds significant importance in Islamic tradition as Ibrahim (Abraham) is revered as a prophet and patriarch. The name is widely used throughout Muslim communities globally, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. This variation with the 'E' spelling is especially common in certain regions like South Africa among Muslim communities. Ebrahim carries connotations of wisdom, faith, and leadership, reflecting the biblical/quranic figure's role as a spiritual founder and his willingness to sacrifice for his beliefs.

Ebrahim

Cool, strong, and distinctive, this Arabic name is associated with bravery and strength, while also being an animal name. It was notably the nickname of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Shia Imam, making this a meaningful choice among Shia Muslims. It can also be spelled as Haidar, Haydar, Hajdar, and Heydar. 

Haidar

Used both as a given name and as a surname, Bashir is a familiar but still unusual choice in the USA and UK, even among Muslim families. In 2014, only 25 boys were named Bashir in the US. One reason for its low usage could be a connection to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, including genocide, in Darfur.

Bashir

Kadeem is a name made familiar by TV actor Kadeem Hardison, a fresher alternative to the better known Kareem. 

Kadeem

Siraj

A relatively popular Arabic name that featured in the French Top 500 for much of the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st. It is also used as a given name in Turkey, Iran and Israel, as well as being a relatively common surname (also spelled Nader). Notable bearers include an 18th century Shah of Iran, a 19th century King of Afghanistan and a former Prime Minister of Jordan. 

 In astrology, the nadir is the lowest point of the sun's trajectory in the sky. In English, this meaning has been transferred figuratively to mean "the lowest point" or sometimes "rock bottom".

Nadir

Nawab is a royal title used in South Asian states, indicating a leader whose position might be compared to that of a prince. Derived from the Arabic naib meaning "deputy, leader", it is also used to describe Muslim noblemen, and, more historically, by the English to describe native Indian rulers during the Mughal Empire. 
 Today, it might be said to fit in with the trend for exalted and regal names like King, Messiah, and Sir, though it has had longer usage among South Asian communities.
 
In 2024, Nawab debuted in the England and Wales Top 1000.

Nawab

This common Arabic name is related to Aaron, but feels far more distinctive in the US. Haroun Khalifa is the protagonist of Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

Haroun

Spelled Najee, this was chosen by rapper LL Cool J for his son several years ago. 

Naji

A name used in the Middle East but that could easily work in the US. As a girls' name, Nuri can also be a short form of Nuria. It was chosen by Christy Lefteri for the protagonist of her novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo which may have familiarized people with the name.

Nuri

The capital of Saudi Arabia makes a difficult first name. 

Riyad

Popular in Turkey (where it is written as Asil, with the dotted i) but used in Pakistan, Egypt, Israel, India, and beyond, Asil is a unisex Arabic name with a number of different meanings, depending on the etymological root you follow or which source you check. The meaning "noble, aristocratic, royal" is popular for boys, though it may additionally mean "original, purebred, deep-rooted", "evening, night", or "flow, run, stretch".
 
Appearing in the Quran, giving it extra significance for Muslim families, Aseel is used as an alternative spelling.

Asil

Aza's similarity to the biblical name Asa makes it ripe for adaptation. If you want something more elaborate, you might consider Azariah. Something simpler?  It doesn't get much simpler and that is the beauty of Aza (or Asa).

Qadir is a classic Muslim name that represents one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah. Since the initial Q is pronounced as K, this handsome name is sometimes Anglicized as Kadir.

Qadir

This might sound and look like a blend of Ryan, Riley, and Nigel, but it is in fact the name of the seventh brightest star in the sky. Found in the constellation of Orion, its name comes from the Arabic phrase, Rijl Jauzah al Yusrā, , meaning "the left foot of the central one."
 
Associated with stargazing and astronomy, it may appeal to those looking for a celestial choice, as it did for Danish astronomer, Ejnar Hertzprung and his wife Henrietta Kapteyn (the daughter of another astronomer), who chose it for their daughter in in the early 20th century.
 
Given to 15 boys in 2024, it could make a familiar but unexpected choice.

Rigel

Roar! This popular name in the Arab world was once almost unused by English speakers, but is now given to a few boys in the States each year. It can also be spelled Fahad and Fahed.

Fahd

 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 6)