Muslim Names

  1. Aaliyah
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aliya, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "heavens, highborn, exalted"
    • Description:

      Both powerful and pretty, with a melodic sound, Aaliyah joins Layla, Lila, Dana, and Farrah as a name of Arabic origin that is also popular in the English-speaking world.
  2. Alana
    • Origin:

      Feminization of Alan, Irish; variation of Ilana, Hebrew; Gaelic; Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "handsome, rock; oak tree; child; awakening"
    • Description:

      Alana, in all its various spellings, was at one time reserved for daughters of dads named Alan, but is now much more widespread. It came into prominence via model/actress/celeb spouse Alana Hamilton Stewart.
  3. Zayn
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "beauty, grace"
    • Description:

      Zayn zoomed up the popularity charts thanks to former One Direction member Zayn Malik; it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2016. The name can also be spelled Zain; the feminine version is Zayna or Zaina.
  4. Rumi
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"
    • Description:

      Rumi is a Japanese girls' name that sounds like a couple of other choices more familiar in the West -- Rumer and Remi -- that is achieving notice because of its choice by two celebrities, including Beyonce and Jay-Z.
  5. Yara
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"
    • Description:

      The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, familiar in the UK and France, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has been climbing the charts ever since.
  6. Aya
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "colorful, bird, sign"
    • Description:

      Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2012.
  7. Raya
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Arabic, English, Japanese, Malay
    • Meaning:

      "friend; clear, pure; hero; fragrance; queen; night orchid; celebration"
    • Description:

      More unusual alternative to Maya, Raya has risen in popularity due to the introduction of the newest Disney Princess from the 2021 film Raya and the Last Dragon. One of those truly multi-cultural names, Raya has its origins in Hebrew, Russian, Japanese, Arabic, and English,
  8. Lilia
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Italian and Russian
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Lilia is pretty double L name that makes for sparkly, floral choice with plenty of international flair. More distinctive that Lily, less popular than Liliana, Lia, and Lilian, Lilia was a new entry to the US Top 1000 in 2023.
  9. Anabia
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "door of jannat"
    • Description:

      A rising Muslim name that references Jannat, or paradise. The similar name Anaba means "one who made repentance and turned to Allah" but it is unrelated to Anabia.
  10. Ayra
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Urdu or Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "respectable, awe-inspiring; or a name for the goddess Saraswati"
    • Description:

      A beautiful name which is well used in India, and certainly has the potential to catch on elsewhere too.
  11. Lulu
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Louise or Lucy, or Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "pearl"
    • Description:

      Lula has a firecracker personality, a singing and dancing extrovert. Interesting that Lulu was a Top 100 name when the Social Security list was born in 1880, but it's been sliding ever since and has not been in the Top 1000 for decades. Modern parents in love with Lulu might well reverse that trend.
  12. Liana
    • Origin:

      Short form of -liana names, Portuguese, Italian, Georgian, French
    • Meaning:

      "to climb like a vine"
    • Description:

      Liana is a pretty, graceful and simple name that doesn't fall flat. The name of a flowering tropical vine that grows in forests, it's an international gem that works well in multiple languages.
  13. Nyla
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit, Irish, modern invention
    • Meaning:

      "winner, one who achieves; hero; cloud; wind, air; dark blue"
    • Description:

      Bright, spirited, and playful, Nyla shares sounds with the popular Isla, Lila, Layla, and Delilah, making it feel fresh and in style. A name with a number of possible origins, it made a brief, anomalous appearance on the US charts in 1941, before disappearing again for the next 60 years. It has been back in the US Top 1000 since 2001, and is currently on the rise, given to around 1230 girls each year.
  14. Lina
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Latin diminutive
    • Meaning:

      "tender"
    • Description:

      This pretty, succinct Arabic name is also commonly used as a nickname for names like Carolina.
  15. Amira
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      This shimmery name, often given to girls born on the harvest feast of Shavuot, and also used in the Muslim community, is increasing in popularity. Amira is of Hebrew and Arabic origin, meaning "princess", and fits in well with a variety of trending names like Amara, Amaya, and Mira. Amira is in the Top 100 in several countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and Hungary. In the US, Amira entered the Top 1000 in 1998 and has been rising since, now in the Top 250. Overall Amira is a gorgeous multicultural choice.
  16. Isa
    • Origin:

      Arabic variation of Jesus
    • Description:

      Isa is an Arabic variation of Jesus found throughout the world, popular among Muslim parents. Other spellings include Issa, Esa, Eissa.
  17. Inaya
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Bengali and Urdu
    • Meaning:

      "care, concern"
    • Description:

      Inaya is a soft and expressive name that derives from the Arabic word "inayah", meaning "care, concern, help". It is an indirect Qur'anic name, and the strictly feminine form of the unisex Inayat.
  18. Dalia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Spanish, or Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "branch; dahlia; gentle"
    • Description:

      Similar in sound to the flower name Dahlia, this gentle but distinctive name, heard in many cultures, hits that Golden Mean between too popular and too unusual. In Lithuanian mythology, Dalia is a goddess of weaving and of fate.
  19. Lara
    • Origin:

      Russian, diminutive of Larissa or Larisa
    • Meaning:

      "citadel"
    • Description:

      This is an alternative to Laura or Lauren made romantic by Dr Zhivago, and badass by video-game heroine Lara Croft.
  20. Altair
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "falcon"
    • Description:

      The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.