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Islamic baby name finder

Search a checked list of well-attested Muslim names by gender and category, with the Arabic spelling. No meaning is given where none is confidently published.

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Matches the name, the Arabic spelling or the meaning

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96 names

from a list of 96

  • Abdul-Aziz

    عبد العزيز
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of the Almighty

  • Abdul-Karim

    عبد الكريم
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of the Most Generous

  • Abdul-Malik

    عبد الملك
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of the Sovereign

  • Abdullah

    عبد الله
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of Allah

  • Abdur-Rahman

    عبد الرحمن
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of the Most Merciful

  • Abdus-Salam

    عبد السلام
    BoyAbd- compounds

    Servant of the Source of Peace

  • Abu Bakr

    أبو بكر
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The first caliph.

  • Adam

    آدم
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The first prophet.

  • Ahmad

    أحمد
    BoyProphets

    Most praiseworthy

    Another name of the Prophet.

  • Aisha

    عائشة
    GirlCompanions and household

    Living, alive

    The Prophet's wife.

  • Ali

    علي
    BoyCompanions and household

    High, elevated

    The fourth caliph, and the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law.

  • Amal

    أمل
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Hope

  • Amin

    أمين
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Trustworthy

  • Aminah

    آمنة
    GirlCompanions and household

    Safe, secure

    The Prophet's mother.

  • Ammar

    عمار
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    An early companion, son of Sumayyah and Yasir.

  • Anas

    أنس
    BoyCompanions and household

    Affection, friendliness

  • Asiya

    آسية
    GirlFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The wife of Pharaoh.

  • Asma

    أسماء
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Daughter of Abu Bakr.

  • Ayman

    أيمن
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Blessed; on the right

  • Ayyub

    أيوب
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Job, known for his patience.

  • Bashir

    بشير
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Bringer of good news

  • Bilal

    بلال
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The first muezzin. The etymology is not settled.

  • Bushra

    بشرى
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Good news

  • Dawud

    داود
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    David.

  • Faisal

    فيصل
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Decisive; one who judges

  • Farah

    فرح
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Joy

  • Fatimah

    فاطمة
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The Prophet's daughter.

  • Hafsa

    حفصة
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The Prophet's wife, daughter of Umar.

  • Hajar

    هاجر
    GirlFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The wife of Ibrahim and mother of Ismail.

  • Hakim

    حكيم
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Wise

  • Halim

    حليم
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Forbearing, gentle

  • Halimah

    حليمة
    GirlCompanions and household

    Gentle, forbearing

    The Prophet's wet-nurse.

  • Hamza

    حمزة
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The Prophet's uncle.

  • Hanan

    حنان
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Compassion, tenderness

  • Harun

    هارون
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Aaron, brother of Musa.

  • Hawwa

    حواء
    GirlFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Eve.

  • Hud

    هود
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Sent to the people of Ad.

  • Huda

    هدى
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Guidance

  • Ibrahim

    إبراهيم
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Abraham.

  • Idris

    إدريس
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Named in the Quran as truthful and a prophet.

  • Ilyas

    إلياس
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Elijah.

  • Iman

    إيمان
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Faith

  • Imran

    عمران
    BoyFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The family of Imran, after whom a surah is named.

  • Isa

    عيسى
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Jesus.

  • Ishaq

    إسحاق
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Isaac, son of Ibrahim.

  • Ismail

    إسماعيل
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Ishmael, son of Ibrahim.

  • Jamil

    جميل
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Beautiful

  • Jamilah

    جميلة
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Beautiful

  • Karim

    كريم
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Generous, noble

  • Karimah

    كريمة
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Generous, noble

  • Khadijah

    خديجة
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The Prophet's first wife. The etymology is not settled.

  • Khalid

    خالد
    BoyCompanions and household

    Everlasting, enduring

    Khalid ibn al-Walid.

  • Khawlah

    خولة
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    A companion; the opening of Surah al-Mujadila concerns her.

  • Latif

    لطيف
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Gentle, kind

  • Latifah

    لطيفة
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Gentle, kind

  • Layla

    ليلى
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Night

  • Luqman

    لقمان
    BoyFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Known for his wisdom; a surah bears his name.

  • Maryam

    مريم
    GirlFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Mary, mother of Isa. A surah bears her name.

  • Maymunah

    ميمونة
    GirlCompanions and household

    Blessed, fortunate

    The Prophet's wife.

  • Muhammad

    محمد
    BoyProphets

    Praised

    The Prophet. Also written Mohammed, Mohammad and Muhammed.

  • Munir

    منير
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Luminous, radiant

  • Musa

    موسى
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Moses.

  • Nasir

    ناصر
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Helper, supporter

  • Nuh

    نوح
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Noah.

  • Nur

    نور
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Light

    A surah bears the name. Used for boys in some cultures.

  • Nusaybah

    نسيبة
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Nusaybah bint Kab, known for her part at Uhud.

  • Rahmah

    رحمة
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Mercy

  • Rashid

    راشد
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Rightly guided

  • Ruqayyah

    رقية
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    A daughter of the Prophet.

  • Sa'd

    سعد
    BoyCompanions and household

    Good fortune

  • Safiyyah

    صفية
    GirlCompanions and household

    Pure, chosen

    The Prophet's wife.

  • Sakinah

    سكينة
    GirlFrom the Quran

    Tranquillity, calm

  • Salih

    صالح
    BoyProphets

    Righteous, upright

    Sent to the people of Thamud.

  • Salma

    سلمى
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Safe, at peace

  • Salman

    سلمان
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Salman al-Farisi.

  • Sami

    سامي
    BoyClassical Arabic

    Elevated, exalted

  • Sana

    سناء
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Radiance, brilliance

  • Sarah

    سارة
    GirlFrom the Quran

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The wife of Ibrahim.

  • Shuayb

    شعيب
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Sent to the people of Madyan.

  • Sulaiman

    سليمان
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Solomon.

  • Sumayyah

    سمية
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    An early companion.

  • Talha

    طلحة
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    One of the earliest companions.

  • Tariq

    طارق
    BoyFrom the Quran

    One who knocks; the night visitor

    A surah bears the name.

  • Umar

    عمر
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The second caliph.

  • Umm Kulthum

    أم كلثوم
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    A daughter of the Prophet.

  • Uthman

    عثمان
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    The third caliph. The etymology is disputed, so no meaning is given here.

  • Yahya

    يحيى
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    John the Baptist.

  • Yaqub

    يعقوب
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Jacob.

  • Yasmin

    ياسمين
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Jasmine

    Of Persian origin, long used in Arabic.

  • Yunus

    يونس
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Jonah.

  • Yusuf

    يوسف
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Joseph, who has a surah of his own.

  • Zahra

    زهراء
    GirlClassical Arabic

    Radiant, bright

    An epithet of Fatimah.

  • Zakariya

    زكريا
    BoyProphets

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    Zechariah, father of Yahya.

  • Zayd

    زيد
    BoyCompanions and household

    Growth, increase

  • Zaynab

    زينب
    GirlCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    A daughter of the Prophet, and one of his wives.

  • Zubayr

    الزبير
    BoyCompanions and household

    No settled meaning is given for this name.

    A cousin of the Prophet and an early companion.

About the meanings

Where a meaning is given it is the one commonly published, and classical Arabic roots often carry several senses. Where no meaning is confidently attested, none is given. A blank is honest and a guess is not.

Transliteration has no single standard, so Muhammad, Mohammed and Mohammad are the same name. Being listed here is not a ruling on whether a name is appropriate; naming conventions differ between families and cultures, and anything you are unsure about is worth asking someone qualified.

A short list, checked, rather than a long one guessed

Name sites are full of confident meanings that do not survive a second look. This list is deliberately smaller than most and follows one rule: where a meaning is not commonly and confidently published, none is given.

So a fair number of entries here have no meaning at all. Uthman, Bilal and Khadijah are famous names with disputed or obscure etymologies. The list says what each is known for instead, which is the thing most parents actually want to know, and leaves the meaning blank rather than filling it with something invented.

Spelling, and why yours is fine

There is no standard way to write Arabic in the Latin alphabet. Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohammad and Muhammed are one name written four ways, and the same goes for Aisha, Ayesha and Aishah. None is more correct than another.

That is why the Arabic spelling sits beside every entry. It is the name; the Latin version is a transcription of it, and you can spell it however your family does.

What the categories are telling you

They describe what a name is known for rather than which language it came from. Prophets are those named in the Quran. Companions covers the companions and the Prophet’s household. From the Quran means words and figures appearing in it. The Abd- compounds are the servant-of names. Classical Arabic is everything well attested outside those groups.

The gender shown is conventional usage, not a rule: Nur, for instance, is used for either in different places.

What this page is not

It is not a ruling on whether a name is appropriate. Naming conventions differ between families, cultures and schools, and a name that is ordinary in one community can carry associations in another. Being listed here means only that the name is well attested and that something reliable can be said about it.

If you are weighing up a name and unsure, about a meaning, about an association, about whether it suits, ask someone qualified rather than a list.

Questions

Why do some names have no meaning listed?
Because a confident meaning is not always available. Uthman, Bilal and Khadijah are all well-known names whose etymologies are disputed or obscure. Rather than invent a gloss, the list says what the name is known for and leaves the meaning blank. Name sites are full of confident-sounding meanings that do not survive checking, and a blank is more useful than a guess.
Are these the only good Islamic names?
Certainly not. This is a starting point of well-attested names, not a register. Plenty of excellent names are not in it, including a great many used across Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Malay, Hausa and other Muslim cultures. If a name you like is missing, that says nothing about it.
Why is the spelling different from how I write it?
Because transliterating Arabic into the Latin alphabet has no single standard. Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohammad and Muhammed are one name written four ways, and none of them is more correct than the others. The Arabic spelling is shown alongside so the name itself is unambiguous.
Does listing a name mean it is recommended?
No. The categories are descriptive, what a name is known for, and inclusion is not a ruling on whether a name is appropriate for your child. Conventions differ between families, cultures and schools, and some names carry associations in one community that they do not in another. Anything you are unsure about is worth asking someone qualified.
Can a girl be given a name listed under boys?
The gender shown is how a name is conventionally used, not a rule. Some names, Nur is the clearest example, are used for either in different places. Treat the label as a description of common usage.
What do the categories mean?
Prophets are the prophets named in the Quran. Companions covers the companions of the Prophet and his household. From the Quran means words and figures that appear in it. Abd- compounds are the servant-of names formed with one of the names of Allah. Classical Arabic covers well-attested Arabic names outside those groups.

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