Abla f ArabicMeans
"full-figured" in Arabic. The 7th-century Arab poet Antara dedicated much of his poetry to a woman named Abla.
Abrar f & m Arabic, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"virtuous" in Arabic. It is typically feminine in the Arab world, and typically masculine in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Adhara f AstronomyDerived from Arabic
عذارى (ʿadhārā) meaning
"maidens". This is the name of the second brightest star (after
Sirius) in the constellation Canis Major.
Afaf f ArabicMeans
"chastity" in Arabic, from the root
عفّ (ʿaffa) meaning "to refrain, to be chaste".
Afnan f ArabicMeans
"tree branches" in Arabic, the plural form of
فنن (fanan). It is given in reference to verse
55:48 in the Quran.
Aiza f UrduMeaning unknown, possibly of Arabic origin.
Akram m & f Arabic, Persian, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"most generous" in Arabic (a superlative form of
Karim). It is typically feminine in Iran, unisex in Pakistan, and masculine elsewhere.
Alaa 2 f ArabicMeans
"blessings, favours, benefits" in Arabic, the plural of
إلًى (ʾilan).
Alaia 2 f English (Modern)Probably a variant of
Alayah. It is likely also influenced by the fashion brand Alaïa, named for the Tunisian-French designer Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017). His surname in Arabic is
عليّة (ʿAlayya), meaning "lofty".
Aleyna f Turkish (Modern)Possibly from Arabic
علينا (ʿalaynā) meaning
"to us". Alternatively, it could be from Arabic
أليناء (ʾalaynāʾ), a plural form of
ليّن (layyin) meaning
"gentle, soft".
Alfia f Bashkir, TatarPossibly derived from Arabic
ألْف (ʾalf) meaning
"thousand". Alternatively, it may be of Turkic origin.
Almudena f SpanishDerived from Arabic
المدينة (al-mudayna) meaning
"the citadel", a diminutive form of the word
مدينة (madīna) meaning "city". According to legend, it was in a building by this name that a concealed statue of the Virgin
Mary was discovered during the Reconquista in Madrid. The Virgin of Almudena, that is Mary, is the patron saint of Madrid.
Aludra f AstronomyDerived from Arabic
العذراء (al-ʿadhrāʾ) meaning
"the maiden". This is the name of a star in the constellation Canis Major.
Alzire f LiteratureUsed by Voltaire for the heroine of his tragic play
Alzire, ou les Américains (1736), about an indigenous Peruvian woman. The name was probably adapted from that of the city of Alzira in Spain, which is of Arabic origin, from
الجزيرة (al-Jazīra) meaning
"the island".
Amani f ArabicMeans
"wishes" in Arabic, related to the root
منا (manā) meaning "to tempt, to put to the test".
Amber f English, DutchFrom the English word
amber that denotes either the gemstone, which is formed from fossil resin, or the orange-yellow colour. The word ultimately derives from Arabic
عنبر (ʿanbar) meaning "ambergris". It began to be used as a given name in the late 19th century, but it only became popular after the release of Kathleen Winsor's novel
Forever Amber (1944).
Amina 1 f Arabic, Bosnian, Tatar, Bashkir, Chechen, Ingush, Kazakh, Urdu, Swahili, HausaDerived from Arabic
أمن (ʾamina) meaning
"safe, secure". This was the name of the Prophet
Muhammad's mother, who died when he was young.
Anissa f EnglishThis name was first brought to public attention in 1966 by the child actress Anissa Jones (1958-1976). In her case it was a transcription of the Arabic name
أنيسة (see
Anisa), given to honour her Lebanese heritage. Other parents who have since used this name may view it simply as an elaboration of
Anna using the popular name suffix
issa.
Arwa f ArabicMeans
"female ibex, mountain goat" in Arabic. This name was borne by some relatives of the Prophet
Muhammad. It was also the name of a 12th-century queen of Yemen.
Asabe f HausaFrom Hausa
Asabar meaning
"Saturday" (of Arabic origin).
Asal f PersianMeans
"honey" in Persian (of Arabic origin).
Ashraqat f ArabicMeans
"brightness, splendour, dawn" in Arabic, derived from the root
شرق (sharaqa) meaning "to radiate, to shine, to rise".
Ashura f SwahiliFrom the name of an Islamic holy day that commemorates the death of
Husayn ibn Ali. It is so named because it falls on the tenth day of Muharram, deriving from Arabic
عشرة (ʿashara) meaning "ten".
Asiya f Arabic, UrduPossibly from Arabic
أسي (ʾasiya) meaning
"to be distressed, to be grieved". According to Islamic tradition this was the name of the wife of the pharaoh at the time of
Moses. She took care of the infant Moses and later accepted monotheism.
Asma f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, MalayMeans
"supreme, higher" in Arabic, a derivative of the root
سما (samā) meaning "to be high". This was the name of a daughter of
Abu Bakr, the first caliph of the Muslims.
Atika f ArabicFrom Arabic
عاتك (ʿātik) meaning
"clear, pure". This name was borne by ancestors of the Prophet
Muhammad, as well as one of his aunts and one of his disciples.
Aya 2 f ArabicMeans
"sign, evidence" or
"verse" in Arabic, as in one of the passages that make up the Quran.
Ayan 2 f & m Azerbaijani, KazakhMeans
"clear, obvious, revelation" in Kazakh and Azerbaijani, from Arabic
عيان (ʿiyān) meaning "witnessing, seeing, clear", a derivative of
عاين (ʿāyana) meaning "to see". It is feminine in Azerbaijan and masculine in Kazakhstan.
Ayda f Arabic, Persian, TurkishMeans
"returning, visitor" in Arabic. In Turkey this is also associated with
ay meaning "moon".
Aysel f Turkish, AzerbaijaniMeans
"moon flood" in Turkish and Azerbaijani, derived from
ay "moon" and
sel "flood, stream, torrent" (of Arabic origin).
Azahar f Spanish (Rare)Means
"orange blossom" in Spanish, ultimately from Arabic
زهْرة (zahra) meaning "flower". It is taken from the title of the Virgin
Mary,
Nuestra Señora del Azahar, meaning "Our Lady of the Orange Blossom", because of the citrus trees that surround a church devoted to her near Murcia.
Azahara f SpanishVariant of
Azahar. It can also be given in reference to the ruined Moorish city of Medina Azahara in Córdoba, which derives from the related Arabic root
زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".
Azure f & m English (Rare)From the English word that means "sky blue". It is ultimately (via Old French, Latin and Arabic) from Persian
لاجورد (lājvard) meaning "azure, lapis lazuli".
Bahija f ArabicMeans
"happy, joyous, delightful" in Arabic, from the verb
بهج (bahija) meaning "to be happy, to rejoice in".
Batul f ArabicMeans
"virgin" in Arabic. This is an Arabic epithet of the Virgin
Mary.
Calafia f LiteratureProbably invented by the 16th-century Spanish writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, who likely based it on
califa, the Spanish form of Arabic
خليفة (khalīfa), an Islamic title meaning
"successor" (see
Khalifa). In Montalvo's novel
The Adventures of Esplandián it is borne by the queen of the island of California (the inspiration for the name of the American and Mexican states).
Cansel f TurkishDerived from Turkish
can meaning "soul, life" and
sel meaning "flood, stream, torrent", ultimately derived from Persian
جان (jān) and Arabic
سيل (sayl).
Casilda f SpanishMeaning uncertain. This is the name of the 11th-century patron saint of Toledo, Spain. It might have an Arabic origin (Saint Casilda was a Moorish princess), perhaps from
قصيدة (qaṣīda) meaning
"poem". Alternatively it could be derived from a Visigothic name in which the second element is
hilds meaning "battle".
Dinara f Kazakh, Tatar, KyrgyzMeaning uncertain, perhaps from Arabic
دينار (dīnār), a currency used in several Muslim countries, ultimately derived from Latin
denarius. Alternatively it may be a derivative of
دين (dīn) meaning "religion".
Durdona f UzbekMeans
"pearl" in Uzbek (a word of Arabic origin).
Ecrin f TurkishMeaning unknown, possibly from an Arabic word meaning
"reward".
Elanur f TurkishMeans
"hazel light", from Turkish
ela meaning "hazel" combined with Arabic
نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Elif f TurkishTurkish form of
Alif, the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet,
ا. It also means
"slender", from the Turkish phrase
elif gibi, literally "shaped like elif".
Emel f TurkishMeans
"desire" in Turkish, ultimately of Arabic origin, making this name a relative of
Amal.
Esmat f & m Persian, ArabicAlternate transcription of Arabic
عصمت (see
Ismat), as well as the usual Persian transcription (typically feminine).
Fadwa f ArabicPossibly means
"sacrifice" in Arabic, from the root
فدى (fadā) meaning "to redeem, to to ransom, to sacrifice".
Fajr f ArabicMeans
"dawn, beginning" in Arabic. This is the name of a daily prayer that is recited in the morning by observant Muslims.
Fatiha f Arabic (Maghrebi)Means
"opener" in Arabic, from the root
فتح (fataḥa) meaning "to open, to conquer". This is the name of the first chapter (surah al-Fatiha) of the Quran.
Fátima f Portuguese, SpanishFrom the name of a town in Portugal, which was derived from the Arabic feminine name
Fatima, apparently after a Moorish princess who converted to Christianity during the Reconquista. The town became an important Christian pilgrimage center after 1917 when three local children reported witnessing repeated apparitions of the Virgin
Mary.
Fatima f Arabic, Urdu, BosnianDerived from Arabic
فطم (faṭama) meaning
"to abstain, to wean". Fatima was a daughter of the Prophet
Muhammad and the wife of
Ali, the fourth caliph. She is regarded as the exemplary Muslim woman, especially among Shias.
Fayruz f ArabicMeans
"turquoise (gemstone)" in Arabic, ultimately of Persian origin.
Fida f & m Arabic, Urdu, IndonesianMeans
"redemption" in Arabic, a derivative of
فدى (fadā) meaning "to redeem, to to ransom, to sacrifice". It is typically masculine in Pakistan and feminine in Indonesia.
Fitri f & m Indonesian, MalayMeans
"pure, natural" in Indonesian and Malay, ultimately from Arabic
فطْري (fiṭrī) meaning "natural". It is a feminine name in Indonesia and a masculine name in Malaysia.
Guadalupe f & m SpanishFrom a Spanish title of the Virgin
Mary,
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, meaning "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Guadalupe is a Spanish place name, the site of a famous convent, derived from Arabic
وادي (wādī) meaning "valley, river" possibly combined with Latin
lupus meaning "wolf". In the 16th century Our Lady of Guadalupe supposedly appeared in a vision to a native Mexican man, and she is now regarded as a patron saint of the Americas.
Gülnur f TurkishMeans
"rose light" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian
گل (gol) meaning "flower, rose" and Arabic
نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Hadia 1 f ArabicMeans
"gift" in Arabic, ultimately a derivative of
هدى (hadā) meaning "to lead the right way, to guide".
Hafsa f Arabic, Urdu, TurkishMeans
"gathering" in Arabic. This was the name of the daughter of
Umar, the second caliph, and a wife of
Muhammad. It was also borne by the influential mother of
Süleyman the Magnificent.
Hagar f Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Hebrew, Hebrew, ArabicPossibly means
"flight" in Hebrew, though it could also be of unknown Egyptian origin. According to the Old Testament she was the second wife of
Abraham and the mother of
Ishmael, the founder of the Arab people. After Abraham's first wife
Sarah finally gave birth to a child, she had Hagar and Ishmael expelled into the desert. However, God heard their crying and saved them.
... [more] Hala f ArabicMeans
"halo around the moon" in Arabic. This was the name of a sister-in-law of the Prophet
Muhammad.
Hanan 2 f ArabicMeans
"mercy, compassion" in Arabic, derived from the root
حنّ (ḥanna) meaning "to sympathize, to pity".
Haniyya f ArabicFrom Arabic
هنيء (hanīʾ) meaning
"pleasant, beneficial", from the root
هنأ (hanaʾa) meaning "to gladden, to enjoy".
Hasna f ArabicMeans
"beauty" in Arabic, a derivative of
حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good".
Haya f ArabicMeans
"hurry, come quickly" in Arabic.
Hayat f & m Arabic, Persian, UrduMeans
"life" in Arabic, from
حيي (ḥayiya) meaning "to live". In Arabic and Persian it is a feminine name, while in Urdu it is masculine.
Hazal f TurkishPossibly from Kurdish
xezal meaning
"gazelle, antelope" (of Arabic origin). It is also associated with Turkish
hazan meaning
"autumn" (of Persian origin).
Hikmat m & f ArabicMeans
"wisdom" in Arabic, related to the root
حكم (ḥakama) meaning "to pass judgement, to decide".
Hilal m & f Arabic, TurkishMeans
"crescent moon" in Arabic, also referring to the new moon on the Islamic calendar. As a given name it is typically masculine in Arabic and feminine in Turkish.
Hind f ArabicPossibly means
"group of camels" in Arabic. Hind bint Abi Umayyah, also known as Umm Salama, was one of the wives of the Prophet
Muhammad. This is also the Arabic name for the country of India.
Hira 2 f TurkishFrom Arabic
حراء (Ḥirāʾ), which according to tradition was the name of the cave where the Prophet
Muhammad received his first revelation.
Huda f ArabicMeans
"right guidance" in Arabic, from the root
هدى (hadā) meaning "to lead the right way, to guide".
Huriya f Arabic (Rare)Means
"nymph, heavenly maiden" in Arabic, referring to the houris, who are beautiful maidens who dwell in the Islamic afterlife.
İlknur f TurkishMeans
"first light", from Turkish
ilk meaning "first" combined with Arabic
نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Ilma 2 f BosnianMeaning unknown, possibly from Arabic
علْم (ʿilm) meaning
"knowledge, learning".
Inam f ArabicMeans
"giving, bestowal, act of kindness" in Arabic, ultimately related to
نعم (naʿima) meaning "to live in comfort, to be delighted".
Inas f ArabicMeans
"friendliness" in Arabic, from the root
أنس (ʾanisa) meaning "to be friendly".
Iqra f UrduFrom Arabic
اقْرأ (iqraʾ) meaning
"read, recite, confess". This is another name of the 96th chapter of the Quran.
İrem f TurkishTurkish form of Arabic
إرم (ʾIram), the name of a beautiful city mentioned in the 89th chapter (surah al-Fajr) of the Quran.
Isra f ArabicMeans
"nocturnal journey" in Arabic, derived from
سرى (sarā) meaning "to travel by night". According to Islamic tradition, the
Isra was a miraculous journey undertaken by the Prophet
Muhammad.
Izdihar f ArabicMeans
"blossoming, prospering" in Arabic, a derivative of
زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine, to bloom".
Janan f ArabicMeans
"heart" or
"soul" in Arabic, a derivative of
جنّ (janna) meaning "to cover, to hide".
Jasmine f English, FrenchFrom the English word for the climbing plant with fragrant flowers that is used for making perfumes. It is derived via Arabic from Persian
یاسمین (yāsamīn), which is also a Persian name. In the United States this name steadily grew in popularity from the 1970s, especially among African Americans. It reached a peak in the early 1990s shortly after the release of the animated Disney movie
Aladdin (1992), which featured a princess by this name.
Jawdat m & f ArabicMeans
"goodness, excellence" in Arabic, derived from
جاد (jāda) meaning "to be excellent, to be generous".
Jelani m & f African American (Modern)This name began to be used rarely in the United States in 1973 after it was featured in a nation-wide newspaper article about African baby names. It probably represents the Arabic name
Jilani, given in honour of the Sufi scholar Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (the meaning quoted by the newspaper article ("mighty") coincides with the meaning of
Qadir).
... [more] Jihad m & f ArabicMeans
"battle, holy war" in Arabic, a derivative of the root
جهد (jahada) meaning "to struggle, to strive".
Jinan m & f ArabicMeans
"garden" or
"paradise" in Arabic, ultimately from the root
جنّ (janna) meaning "to cover, to hide".
Jummai f HausaFrom Hausa
Jumma'a meaning
"Friday" (of Arabic origin).
Kahina f BerberDerived from Arabic
الكاهنة (al-Kāhina) meaning
"the diviner, the fortuneteller". This was a title applied to the 7th-century Berber queen Dihya, who resisted the Arab expansion into North Africa.
Kamaria f ComorianFrom Arabic
qamar meaning
"moon", also the root of the name of the island country of the Comoros.
Karam m & f ArabicMeans
"nobility, generosity" in Arabic, derived from
كرم (karuma) meaning "to be generous".
Kawthar f ArabicMeans
"abundance" in Arabic. This is the name of the 108th chapter (surah al-Kawthar) of the Quran.
Kayra m & f TurkishMeans
"kindness, favour" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic
خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Keziban f TurkishMeaning uncertain, possibly derived from Persian
کدبانو (kadbānū) meaning
"housewife, lady of the house" or Arabic
تكذبون (takdhibūna) meaning
"you deny", a word repeated several times in the 55th chapter of the Quran (surah ar-Rahman).
Khadija f Arabic, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"premature child" in Arabic. This was the name of the Prophet
Muhammad's first wife and the mother of all of his children, with the exception of one. She was a wealthy merchant and a widow when they married in the year 595. Muhammad received his first revelation 15 years after their marriage, and she was the first person to convert to Islam.
Khawla f ArabicPossibly means
"gazelle, doe" in Arabic. This was the name of a female companion of the Prophet
Muhammad.
Khayra f ArabicMeans
"good deed" in Arabic, a derivative of
خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Ladi f HausaFrom Hausa
Lahadi meaning
"Sunday" (of Arabic origin).
Lamia 1 f ArabicMeans
"shining, radiant" in Arabic, derived from the root
لمع (lamaʿa) meaning "to shine, to gleam".
Lamya f ArabicDerived from the poetic Arabic word
لمى (lamā) meaning
"dark red lips".
Layan f ArabicMeans
"soft, delicate" in Arabic, from the root
لان (lāna) meaning "to be soft".
Layla f Arabic, EnglishMeans
"night" in Arabic. Layla was the love interest of the poet
Qays (called Majnun) in an old Arab tale, notably retold by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in his poem
Layla and Majnun. This story was a popular romance in medieval Arabia and Persia. The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song
Layla by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.
Lilac f English (Rare)From the English word for the shrub with purple or white flowers (genus Syringa). It is derived via Arabic from Persian.
Lina 1 f ArabicMeans
"soft, tender" in Arabic, derived from
لان (lāna) meaning "to be soft". It can also be from Arabic
لينة (līna), a type of palm tree, likely derived from the same root.
Lubna f Arabic, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"storax tree" in Arabic. According to a 7th-century Arabic tale Lubna and Qays were a couple forced to divorce by Qays's father.