Arabic Names that Start With S
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- Sena
Origin:
Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; EweMeaning:
"this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth"Description:
Sena is one of those names that is as obscure in the Western World as it is simple and straightforward. Sena exists as a name in a range of languages and cultures and may be pronounced like Senna (with a soft e) or Sienna.
- Senna
Origin:
Botanical name; ArabicMeaning:
"brightness"Description:
Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works mainly as a laxative. While that is a less-than-savory association, Senna has a pretty sound and is a fresh entry in the flourishing botanical names genus.
- Samira
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"companion in evening conversation"Description:
Shiny cousin of Samara with an intriguing meaning. Increasingly associated with the charming Samira Wiley, a perennial scene-stealer on "Orange is the New Black" and "The Handmaid's Tale."
- 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.
- Scheherazade
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"noble lineage"Description:
Scheherazade -- or Sheherazade --is a legendary Persian queen immortalized as the narrator of all one thousand stories in the One Thousand and One Nights. Her story is even more remarkable than the tales she tells.
- Samiya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"high, exalted, praised"Description:
Samiya is a name used by parents of both Arabic and African ancestry. Spelling variations include Samiyah, Samiah, and Samia.
- Sana
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"Description:
One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
- Sari
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Sari is a cute spin on Sarah, though some may hear it as "sorry," and it is also an item of clothing worn in India. These days many people will also confuse Sari with Suri, the lovely and unsual name of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' much-publicized young daughter.
- Safa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"pure, serenity, clarity"Description:
An English, Persian, and Turkish transcription of Arabic Safaa or Safaa', Safa is a a serene but strong choice and has proved popular among Muslim parents in the UK. Spritually significant, As-Safaa is the name of one of the two sacred hills near Mecca which Muslim pilgrims travel between when performing the pilgrimage of Hajj.
- Shakira
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"thankful, woman of grace"Description:
The mononymous Colombian-born singer inspired a popularity blip in the 90s and early 00s.
- Sahara
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"desert"Description:
A beautiful and evocative place-name that deserves wider use.
- Sadiya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"lucky, fortunate"Description:
This female form of Sa'id is one of several eminently usable Arabic S names.
- Safiyya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"confidante, best friend"Description:
The fact that this is pronounced sah-FEE-yah would cause Western ears to hear it as Sophia.
- Sahar
Origin:
Arabic, PersianMeaning:
"dawn, morning, awakening"Description:
This is a soft and strong Arabic and Persian name commonly heard in the Middle East.
- Salah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"peace through faith"Description:
Short form of the name Anglicized as Saladin, very popular throughout the Arab world.
- Salma
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"safe"Description:
Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek lends a large dollop of glamour to this name that would otherwise resemble the middle-aged Selma.
- Sheherazade
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"noble lineage"Description:
The tale-spinning heroine of The Thousand and One Nights, Sheherazade is an extravagantly elaborate name for a little girl. Too extravagantly elaborate? It's lovely and beguiling, and with the rise of such evocative monikers as Persephone and Ophelia, Sheherazade may have a chance in the modern baby name world. Another accepted spelling is Scheherazade. While the origin of this name is Persian, there are also modern Arabic forms of the name.
- Samiyah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"high, exalted, praised"Description:
Samiyah hovers near the bottom of the US Top 1000, used expecially by Arab-American and African-American families. Variations include Samiya, Samiah, and Samia.
- Sami
Origin:
Diminutive of Samuel, and ArabicMeaning:
"exalted"Description:
Soundalike cousin of Sammy, cute but slight on its own.
- Suleiman
Origin:
Arabic variation of Solomon, HebrewMeaning:
"man of peace"Description:
Also transcribed as Sulaiman or Sulayman, this is the Arabic form of the biblical Solomon. It holds strong historical and religious significance, most famously associated with Suleiman the Magnificent, the longest reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire.