Names that are both Hebrew and Arabic
- Abia
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"great"Description:
Simple plus unusual is a winning combination.
- Abia
Description:
Abia is a masculine name with ancient biblical and historical roots. It appears in the Bible as the name of several figures, including King Abijah of Judah, as Abia is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Abijah, meaning "my father is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my father." The name carries strong religious significance in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions. Beyond biblical contexts, Abia is also used in various cultures around the world, including as a Nigerian place name. While not among the most common names in Western countries, Abia has seen occasional use for boys, appreciated for its melodic sound, brevity, and meaningful spiritual heritage.
- Adara
Origin:
Arabic, HebrewMeaning:
"maidens; noble, exalted"Description:
A charming multicultural choice with a daring yet grounded sound, Adara is a both a Hebrew name with a noble meaning, and an Arabic name with ties to astronomy. Popular in Puerto Rico and Spain, it is also on the rise in the US.
- Adhara
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"virgins"Description:
Adhara is the name of one of the brightest stars in the sky. Also known as Adara, this name is perfectly suitable for a child.
- Amael
Origin:
Breton, French, Hebrew, “chieftain”Description:
Amael or Amaël is a variant of the popular Breton name Mael or Maël, which ranks in the Top 10 in France.
- Aza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful"Description:
Aza is an excellent Arabic choice: elegant and simple. Too simple for you? Consider Aziza.
- Ishaq
Origin:
Arabic and Urdu from Hebrew Yitzchak or IsaacMeaning:
"laughter"Description:
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 the name of a prophet and the son of Ibrahim and Sarah.
- Ismail
Origin:
Arabic variation of Ishmael, HebrewMeaning:
"God will hear"Description:
This classic, handsome Arabic name — cognate of the Hebrew Ishmael — was chosen by Tan and Rob France for their son born in 2021. Ismail is the preferred spelling in England, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey, while Ismael ranks higher in countries with native Spanish speakers, including the US.
- Jim
Origin:
English, diminutive of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Peaked in the 1940s, but still an amiable classic, a la Joe and Tom -- though rarely used on its own.
- Mahershala
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"swift to the plunder"Description:
Actor Mahershala Ali single-handedly put this Biblical name on the map. If you think it's difficult to pronounce and spell, consider that it's short for Maher-shalal-hash-baz, the longest name in the Bible which Ali actually used in its entirety as his stage name until 2010.
- Mozes
Description:
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.
- Salem
Origin:
Biblical place-name or ArabicMeaning:
"safe"Description:
Salem is a Biblical place name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem, as well as the Massachusetts town famous for its late 17th century witch trials. Salem is also a popular first name in its own right throughout the Arabic world.
- Yahir
Origin:
Hebrew and ArabicMeaning:
"he will enlighten, he shines; to be visible, shining"Description:
This Hebrew and Arabic name hit the US Top 300 in 2004 via an unusual inspiration: A Mexican pop singer and telenovela star known simply as Yahir, who was himself named after a Brazilian soccer player. Possibly a variation of the Hebrew Jair the Arabic Zahir, Yahir has since declined since its peak in the 2000s, however, it does remain in the latter end of the US Top 1000.
- Yazid
Description:
Yazid is a masculine name with Arabic origins, meaning "increase" or "he who adds." It has historical significance in Islamic culture, as it was the name of several caliphs and notable figures throughout Middle Eastern history. The name carries connotations of growth, abundance, and prosperity. While traditionally popular in Arabic-speaking countries and Muslim communities worldwide, Yazid has gained limited recognition in Western countries as cultural boundaries become more fluid. The name is appreciated for its distinctive sound, meaningful etymology, and cultural significance. Yazid has a strong, concise phonetic quality with its two clear syllables and distinctive 'z' sound, making it both memorable and relatively easy to pronounce across different languages.
- Yusuf
Origin:
Arabic variation of Joseph, HebrewMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Yusuf is the Arabic form of Joseph, used in the Middle East, as well as internationally from France and the US, to the UK, Turkey and Azerbaijan - where, as of 2023, it ranked in the Top 100.
- Zakia
Origin:
Arabic and HebrewMeaning:
"pure"Description:
Strong cross-cultural name that could be a feminine spin on the Zachary family.