Arabic Girl Names by ViVi

These are names of 100% Arabic origin, meaning they don't derive from names from other cultures. These are names specifically for girls. There are no male or unisex names on this list.
  1. Lila
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "night; play"
    • Description:

      Lila is one of the girl names with a double l sound — Lila, Lola, Layla, Leila, Lily et al — that have caught on in a major way., Delicate yet dynamic, Lila has a slightly international flair.
  2. Nyla
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit, Irish, modern invention
    • Meaning:

      "winner, one who achieves; hero; cloud; wind, air; dark blue"
    • Description:

      Bright, spirited, and playful, Nyla shares sounds with the popular Isla, Lila, Layla, and Delilah, making it feel fresh and in style. A name with a number of possible origins, it made a brief, anomalous appearance on the US charts in 1941, before disappearing again for the next 60 years. It has been back in the US Top 1000 since 2001, and is currently on the rise, given to around 1230 girls each year.
  3. Yara
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"
    • Description:

      The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages. Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, familiar in the UK and France, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has been climbing the charts ever since.
  4. Leila
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "night"
    • Description:

      Leila was popularized in the West by the poet Byron, who used it in his poem Don Juan for a ten-year-old Turkish girl. Leila also appears as a fairy in the Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera Iolanthe.
  5. Amina
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "trustworthy, faithful; feel safe"
    • Description:

      Light and beautiful, but equally solid and versatile, Amina is a name of Arabic origin that is used internationally. Popular in Russia, the UK, Azerbijan, Belgium and Sweden, the name has also climbed the US charts in recent years and is now in the Top 400.
  6. Farrah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "happiness"
    • Description:

      Back in the late '70s, Farrah Fawcett's name was as frequently copied as her hairstyle and even made the Top 200 in 1977! Like any trend, however, it promptly fell back out of style, only to re-emerge in the 2010s, in honor of the star's death and possibly thanks to TV personality, Farrah Abraham of Teen Mom too.
  7. Alya
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "heavens, highborn, exalted"
    • Description:

      Alya is most familiar in the US in its much-more-complicated form Aaliyah, the spelling used by the later singer. The traditional name of the star system Theta Serpentis, Alya is also an established Muslim first name and a Turkish place-name. It may also be a Russian short form for Alexandra or any other Al- name.
  8. Aida
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Italian; Lithuanian
    • Meaning:

      "returning visitor; happy; echo"
    • Description:

      Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.
  9. Inaya
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Bengali and Urdu
    • Meaning:

      "care, concern"
    • Description:

      Inaya is a soft and expressive name that derives from the Arabic word "inayah", meaning "care, concern, help". It is an indirect Qur'anic name, and the strictly feminine form of the unisex Inayat.
  10. 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."
  11. Naja
    • Origin:

      Greenlandic, Arabic or Navajo
    • Meaning:

      "boy's younger sister; success; or silver hands"
    • Description:

      One of several similar feminine names often found in the Muslim world but also a Native American name. And in Greenlandic, Naja means "a boy's younger sister", which could be a sweet connection to a big brother. It's a relatively popular name in Denmark.
  12. Romina
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "from the land of the Christians"
    • Description:

      This pretty name found in Spanish-speaking countries shares the diminutive of Romy—also spelled Romi—with Rosemary. It joined the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.
  13. Imani
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "faith"
    • Description:

      Another strong Arabic name, related to Iman. Imani one is popular throughout the Muslim world but especially East Africa. It was chosen for her daughter by actress Jasmine Guy.
  14. Fatima
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "a woman who abstains"
    • Description:

      Captivating and gorgeous, powerful but with gentle sounds, Fatima is a popular name of Arabic origin. In the Quran, she is one of the Prophet Muhammad's daughters, and the wife of Ali, the forth ruler of the Muslim world. Fatima is regarded as the ideal example of a Muslim women, which makes it a favorite among Muslim parents.
  15. Aliya
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "heavens, highborn, exalted; to ascend, to rise"
    • Description:

      Simpler and less tied to the singer in this form, Aliya is a feminine form of the Arabic name Ali, meaning "lofty, sublime, high" or "exalted." Boosted to fame by the ill-fated singer, Aaliyah, and used across the Middle East, the US and the UK, Aliya is a powerful and pretty choice with a concise spelling.
  16. Nadira
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "precious, rare"
    • Description:

      A beautiful name with a meaning befitting a treasured baby, Nadira is a feminine form of Nadir. Also spelled as Nadirah and appearing as Nadire in Albanian and Turkish, it means "precious, rare", though is sometimes listed as meaning "treasured" and "unique" too.
  17. Kalila
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      The lilting name of a range of mythical mountains, with an extensive menu of spellings, and a more unusual way of fitting in with current favorites Lila and Lola.
  18. Farah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "happiness"
    • Description:

      Farah is a soft and lovely Arabic name, best known here in this original spelling via the last Empress of Iran, Farah Palavi. It's currently a Top 250 name in both France and the Netherlands, which both have a large Arabic-speaking population, and appears in at least two video games.
  19. Sana
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"
    • Description:

      One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
  20. Nylah
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "winner"
    • Description:

      Nylah is the Arabic name of a princess -- Nyla is another variation -- that's rising quickly through the ranks, partly thanks to an adorable kitty that enjoyed 15 minutes of YouTube fame. But we predict this attractive and unusual name will get a longer turn in the sun than the pop-culture cat.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo