Muslim Names
- Hakeem
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"judicious"Description:
Muhammad approved all ninety-nine attributes of Allah as worthy names, and this is one of the most popular. It was in the US Top 1000 for the first time since 1998 in 2016, when it was one of the 10 fastest-rising boys' names. Perhaps the most well known person in America with the name is former Houston Rockets center and Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.
- Nasir
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"helper"Description:
Similar to Nasser, with a slightly more altruistic meaning. Rapper Nas was born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones, and Nasir may have gotten a bump from 2016 show The Night Of, whose protagonist was named Nasir Kahn.
- Musa
Origin:
Arabic, Turkish, and Persian form of MosesDescription:
With its gentle but solid sounds, Musa is a name that feels both dignified and energetic. The Arabic, Turkish, and Persian form of Moses, Musa is popular internationally, from The Netherlands to Turkey to The UK.
- Yunus
Origin:
Arabic, HebrewMeaning:
"dove"Description:
Yunus is the Arabic form of Jonah, also used in Turkish. In Islam, Yunus is a prophet.
- Sula
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
The protagonist of Toni Morrison's novel, the simple-yet-sensual Sula relates to the Old Testament Shulamit. Alternatively, it might be a short form of Ursula.
- Iyla
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"moonlight"Description:
Iyla, now a Top 1000 girls' name in the US, resembles many other popular names, from the Top 100 Isla to the Turkish Ayla, with which it shares a moonlit meaning.
- Abdullah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"servant of Allah"Description:
Another Islamic favorite, the father of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Zaia
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"wicker basket; kind of cloth"Description:
Joining Maia, Raya, and Kaia, is alluring, evocative Zaia.
- Nima
Origin:
Hebrew, Arabic, and HindiMeaning:
"thread, hair; blessing; margosa tree"Description:
Multicultural name often heard in the Near East. Also spelled Neema.
- Mustafa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"the chosen one"Description:
Mustafa is a name widely used in Turkey, as it was the given name of the man popularly known as Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Mustafa is also an epithet of the prophet Muhammad and was the name of four Ottoman sultans. Other spellings include Mostafa, Moustafa, and Moustapha.
- Rania
- Aniyah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"helper"Description:
Variation of Aniya.
- Nour
Origin:
Variation of Noor, ArabicMeaning:
"light"Description:
Noor is the prevailing spelling of this beautiful Arabic name, while Nour is preferred in many European countries, including France and Spain.
- Samina
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"healthy"Description:
Samina is a little-known name in the US, given to only a handful of baby girls each year, that is prime for wider use. It's attractive, easy to spell and pronounce, and makes a perfect alternative to the waning Samantha. The only problem may be confusion over pronunciation. Native Arabic speakers may pronounce it with equal emphasis on all syllables, but English speakers will say sa-MEE-na (correct) or sa-MY-na (not, but be prepared for a lifetime of corrections).
- Roa
Origin:
Spanish and Catalan surnameMeaning:
"arched wood that forms a bow"Description:
This Catalan and Spanish surname is derived from the Spanish word "rueda" from the Latin "rota," meaning "arched wood that forms a bow."
- Azra
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"virgin"Description:
Azra is a perennial favorite Arabic name for girls in Turkey, Bosnia and Croatia. In the West, Azra could become a fresher take on Virginia or a more feminine spin on Ezra.
- Maira
- Isra
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"nocturnal journey"Description:
An Arabic name with a powerful and alluring meaning, in Islamic tradition, Isra refers to one part of the Night Journey that the Prophet Muhammad, in which he led other prophets such as Ibrahim, Isa, and Musa in prayer. Popular in Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands, it is climbing the US charts.
- Ayman
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"righteous, right-handed, blessed, lucky"Description:
Handsome Arabic name that is well-used internationally. Ayman is a Top 500 name in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Italy, and a Top 100 name in Spain. It could very easily be borne by an American child.
- Naima
Origin:
Arabic, Scandinavian variation of NaemaMeaning:
"tranquil; pleasantness"Description:
As an Arabic name, the normal transcription is Na'ima, with an apostrophe. It was a Top 200 name in France in the 1970s and '80s, and ranked in the US Top 1000 from 2005 to 2008.