Muslim Names

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

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.

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

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

A traditional name in the Arabic world.

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.

It's most commonly associated with the French elephant, but Babar ironically means "tiger."

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.

A popular Muslim girl name in the UK, possibly boosted by its similarity to familiar classic Hannah.

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.

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.")

Rare and rhythmic.

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.

A Quranic name used for Muslim children of both sexes.

Female form of Syed.

In Islamic tradition, Asiya was the wife of Pharaoh and the adoptive mother of Moses. She is celebrated as an exemplar woman for accepting monotheism and going against her husband's beliefs in order to be faithful to Allah. Some scholars believe that Moses went on to name the continent of Asia in her honor.