Arabic Names that Start With S

  1. Sena
    • Origin:

      Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; Ewe
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  2. Senna
    • Origin:

      Botanical name; Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Samira
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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."
  4. Samir
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  5. Scheherazade
    • Origin:

      Persian
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  6. Sana
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"
    • Description:

      One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
  7. Sari
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  8. Sadiya
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "lucky, fortunate"
    • Description:

      This female form of Sa'id is one of several eminently usable Arabic S names.
  9. Safa
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  10. Sami
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Samuel, and Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "exalted"
    • Description:

      Soundalike cousin of Sammy, cute but slight on its own.
  11. Salma
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "safe"
    • Description:

      Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek lends a large dollop of glamour to this name that would otherwise resemble the middle-aged Selma.
  12. Sahar
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian
    • Meaning:

      "dawn, morning, awakening"
    • Description:

      This is a soft and strong Arabic and Persian name commonly heard in the Middle East.
  13. Samiya
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "high, exalted, praised"
    • Description:

      Samiya is a name used by parents of both Arabic and African ancestry. Spelling variations include Samiyah, Samiah, and Samia.
  14. Samiyah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  15. Shaquille
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "well developed, handsome"
    • Description:

      No longer a one-person name, as a number of parents have been inspired by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal to adopt it for their own future athletes.
  16. Salah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "peace through faith"
    • Description:

      Short form of the name Anglicized as Saladin, very popular throughout the Arab world.
  17. Sama
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "sky"
    • Description:

      Sama is on the baby name roster in the English-speaking world thanks to its rank at the bottom of the British Top 1000. A variation of the Turkish Sema, Sama may be used as a simpler, fresher alternative to Samantha or one of the most accessible Arabic names for girls.
  18. Sami
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, diminutive of Samantha, or Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "praised"
    • Description:

      Sami is cute if overused in its more familiar Sammy form.
  19. Suleiman
    • Origin:

      Arabic variation of Solomon, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  20. Sahara
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "desert"
    • Description:

      A beautiful and evocative place-name that deserves wider use.