Muslim Names

A traditional name in the Arabic world.

A name mostly found in Muslim and Hindu families, but a rarity in the US.

Not, as you may be inclined to think, a variation of Eleanor. Elanur is a modern Turkish compound of the names Ela (meaning "hazel") and Nur ("light.")

The meaning derives from the traditional Arab act of crushing bread into crumbs in order to share it. Recently heard in the hit French Netflix series Call My Agent in its French form Hicham.

This unisex Arabic name is most frequently used for baby boys in the US, although a significant number of girls are named Rayan each year as well. The emphasis belongs on the second syllable.

Zayna is a simplified spelling of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad, and also the feminine version of Zayn. Zaina is a widely-used spelling variation. Zainabu is another form of the name, also found in Swahili.

Kadir is derived from Qadir (many Arabic K names are phonetic versions of Q-starting names); a classic Muslim name reflecting one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah.

Hasan is a significant Muslim historical figure — he was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali and Fatimah. Shia Muslims consider Hasan a martyr — he died after being poisoned by his wife.

Rare and rhythmic.

An Arabic name that can easily cross cultures. Janan might make a distinctive honor name for an ancestral Jan, Jane, or John.

Although Malak can be used for both sexes, it's much more widely-used for girls in the US and throughout Europe, where it ranks on several popularity lists.

A common form of Muhammad in Turkey, where the spelling Muhammed is also used. In the US, Mehmet is commonly known as the first name of Dr. Oz.

A perennially popular choice in India, where it is inextricably linked to Buddha's son. Rahul briefly ranked in the US Top 1000, from 1998 to 2004.

This Arabic names has many spelling variations but this is the one that of the more phonetic transliterations and is therefore most used in English-speaking countries.

Female form of Syed.

This attractive Arabic name is gaining attention in the US, used equally for boys and girls. Indeed, its sound (it rhymes with the feminine Tamar but ends with the fashionably masculine -ar sound as in Oscar) and most logical nickname (Sam) make it a choice that's at once accessible and distinctive for both genders.

This female form of Qadir represents one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah.