Beautiful Arabic Baby Names
- Safiya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"pure"Description:
The soft and pretty name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Zaki
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"full of virtue, pure"Description:
Not related to Zack, Zacky, Zachary, or Zachariah – but many will assume it is.
- Nuri
Origin:
Arabic or HebrewMeaning:
"light or my fire"Description:
A name used in the Middle East but that could easily work in the US. As a girls' name, Nuri can also be a short form of Nuria. It was chosen by Christy Lefteri for the protagonist of her novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo which may have familiarized people with the name.
- Issa
Description:
Issa is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Arabic culture, it is the name for Jesus (prophet Isa in Islam) and means 'God is salvation.' It also appears in Slavic languages as a diminutive of names like Isidor. In Japanese, Issa can be a given name meaning 'one tea' or was famously the pen name of the poet Kobayashi Issa. The name's brevity and melodic quality have contributed to its growing international appeal. Issa has gained popularity in recent decades, especially in Muslim communities and among parents seeking short, meaningful names with cross-cultural significance. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across different languages, adding to its global accessibility while maintaining cultural richness.
- Hala
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"moon halo"Description:
A simple and seamlessly international choice with a joyful sound and beautiful meaning.
- Ilyas
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"Yahweh is God"Description:
Common Arabic version of Elijah. The Ilyes spelling is a Top 100 name in France.
- Shula
Origin:
Arabic or diminutive of Shulamit, HebrewMeaning:
"flame; peace"Description:
Shula is a short form often used on its own in Israel. Sula is another, related, option. As an Arabic name, it has a bright, fiery meaning.
- Khadija
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"premature child"Description:
The Prophet Muhammad's first wife and the first convert to Islam, and a very popular name in the Muslim community. It ranks in the Top 200 girls' names in France, Italy and England & Wales (alongside variant Khadijah just below the Top 200).
- Noor
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"light"Description:
More commonly seen as a girl name, where it has roots in both Arabic and Dutch. The masculine variation of Noor is Arabic and used in Islamic communities.
- Zainab
Origin:
Variation of ZaynabDescription:
Zainab—the name of a flowering tree and of a granddaughter, daughter, and two wives of the Prophet Muhammed—was a newcomer to the US Top 1000 in 2013. While simplified variations Zaina or Zayna are more Western-friendly, neither makes the US list.
- Jumana
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"silver pearl"Description:
Rare and rhythmic.
- Habiba
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beloved, sweetheart"Description:
A name whose sweet sound matches with its meaning, Habiba is popular in Somalia and North Africa. It comes from the Arabic habib meaning "dear, beloved", making it a bright and endearing choice.
- Talib
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"seeker of knowledge"Description:
Talib is a North African name with an admirable meaning, associated with rapper Talib Kweli.
- Hani
Origin:
Arabic, HawaiianMeaning:
"happy, contented; move or touch lightly"Description:
A short, succinct name with a sound as cheerful as its meaning, Hani is an Arabic name that is particularly popular across Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine. Also used as a feminine name in Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, it is sometimes considered a Hawaiian unisex name, meaning "to move lightly", or occasionally a variation of Johann or Johannes.
- Binyamin
Description:
Binyamin is the traditional Hebrew form of Benjamin, a masculine name with deep biblical roots. In the Hebrew Bible, Binyamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name carries rich meaning, traditionally interpreted as "son of the right hand" or "son of the south," symbolizing strength and favor. Widely used in Jewish communities worldwide, Binyamin represents cultural heritage and religious tradition. While Benjamin is more common in Western countries, Binyamin remains the preferred form in Israel and among traditional Jewish families. The name combines historical significance with a timeless quality that has maintained its relevance across centuries.
- Qadir
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"capable, powerful"Description:
Qadir is a classic Muslim name that represents one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah. Since the initial Q is pronounced as K, this handsome name is sometimes Anglicized as Kadir.
- Jabbar
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful, mighty"Description:
One of the names of Allah, this name is also associated with basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.).
- Zakariya
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"God remembers"Description:
An Arabic form of Zachariah which may also be spelled as Zakariyya. In Islamic tradition, Zakariya was a priest and prophet, in charge of managing the services at the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
- 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.
- Sharif
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"the honorable one"Description:
Long associated with Egyptian-born actor/bridge expert Omar Sharif, also a title bestowed on descendants of Muhammad.
