325+ Arabic Names (with Meanings and Popularity)

The fact that this is pronounced sah-FEE-yah would cause Western ears to hear it as Sophia.

Kahlil, spelled in various ways, was first brought into the American consciousness by the poet Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.

Zaynab, from the Arabic word for beauty and the name of a flowering tree, was the name of a granddaughter, daughter and two wives of the Prophet Muhammed. Related names include the simplified forms Zaina and Zayna and the Swahili-inflected Zainabu, along with possibly Zenobia, a name related to the Greek mythological god Zeus. Zaynab is one of the most popular Muslim girls' names around the world.

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.

Zamzam has to be the ultimate impact name. Despite all those Zs, Zamzam, is not a trendy modern invention by some rock star; in fact Zamzam derives from the Well of Zamzam, which is the holiest place in Mecca.

Unfortunate association with Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

A pleasant, welcoming Middle Eastern choice.

Widespread choice in the Muslim world, this was the name of both the father of the Prophet Mohammed and one of his sons.

Strongly identified with peace-accord-seeking Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat.

Pretty and feminine Muslim name popular in Egypt.

Eliya may be thought of as a female variation on the popular Biblical boys' name Elijah or a spelling variation of the popular girls' name Aliyah. It may not rank among the US Top 1000 and it may cause some spelling and pronunciation confusion, but it does have genuine roots as a name.

Used both as a given name and as a surname, Bashir is a familiar but still unusual choice in the USA and UK, even among Muslim families. In 2014, only 25 boys were named Bashir in the US. One reason for its low usage could be a connection to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, including genocide, in Darfur.

The feminine form of Amir, a soft and regal baby name popular in the Muslim community.

Commonly used Muslim name, also sometimes chosen to honor Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser.

Sounds a bit like a shortening of Rafael or a condensation of Rafaela, but Rafa is a name in its own right.

A name with considerable history, as the celebrated sultan of Egypt and Syria in the time of the Crusades.

A rarely heard name that was the title of a hugely popular Big Band song in the forties. Amapola, with the emphasis on the third syllable, is one flower name that has not been widely discovered.

To Muslims, an auspicious name.

A Saudi Arabian royal name that has remained within its own culture.