Updated October 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
Diminutive of Jedidiah, Hebrew
"beloved of the Lord"
Cowboyish short form that's both macho and cool. Got prime time exposure on The West Wing .
Urdu, Arabic
"lion, brave"
Cool, bright, and tough, Haider is the Urdu form of the Arabic name Haidar (or Haydar). Notably the nickname of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Shia Imam, it…
Arabic
"empathetic, merciful"
To Muslims, an auspicious name.
"praiseworthy"
Historic name commonly found in the Arab world.
"servant of Allah"
A frequently used Arabic name.
"benevolent"
Could present pronunciation problems.
"charitable, generous"
Name of a son of the Prophet Muhammad, with a particularly positive meaning.
"safe"
Distinguished by association with renowned African diplomat Salim Ahmed Salim, this name is popular in many variations throughout the Arab world. Its use is growing in the US as well, especially in…
"evening conversation"
This attractive Arabic name is gaining attention in the US, used equally for boys and girls. Indeed, its sound (it rhymes with the feminine Tamar but ends with the fashionably masculine -ar sound as…
"full of virtue, pure"
Not related to Zack, Zacky, Zachary, or Zachariah – but many will assume it is.
"safety"
Salman is an Arabic name dating back to Salman the Persian, one of Muhammad's companions. In this country it is strongly associated with Anglo-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic…
"virtuous, pure, chaste"
A virtuous Arabic name, familiar in Pakistan, Saudi Arabic, India, Nigeria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and England and Wales, Tahir may also be written as Taher, Tahir (with the dotted i) or…
"highborn"
Pleasant and accessible and not as widely-used as some other African names .
"friend"
Kahlil, spelled in various ways, was first brought into the American consciousness by the poet Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
Persian, Indonesian, and Bengali form of Rida, Arabic
"satisfaction, contentment"
A popular Persian name, Reza stems from the Arabic word ridan which translates to "satisfaction, approval", though more figuratively, it may refer to being content with God's will and therefore…
"just, fair"
Also spelled Adel, this name of Arabic origin is also used in Urdu, Turkish, and Persian. It comes from the Arabic root adala meaning "to act justly", linking it to honesty and fairness —…
"beautiful"
Familiar and handsome, Jamil is a name of Arabic origin. Its literal meaning is "beautiful" and while this can refer to physical beauty, as a Quranic name, it more specifically refers to beautiful…
"lion or strong"
This name has considerable meaning in the Islamic world, as Hamzah the brave was the uncle and protector of the Prophet of Islam. A more contemporary Hamzah is the eldest son of the late King Hussein…
Arabic and Urdu from Hebrew Yitzchak or Isaac
"laughter"
The Arabic and Urdu form of the cheerful Isaac, itself derived from the Hebrew Ytizchak, Ishaq is familiar in the UK and in France and was a fast rising choice in 2023. In Islamic tradition, Ishaq is…
Hindi; Arabic
"lotus; perfect, perfection"
Kamal carries two positive associations: one of the ninety-nine qualities of Allah listed in the Quran and the evocative lotus flower. Americans might recognize it as the male equivalent of Kamala,…