Aqiqa·5 min read
Muslim girl names: 100 Arabic names with their meanings
Names from the Quran, the wives and daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, classic, short or rare: 100 girl names with their Arabic spelling and meaning, plus the Islamic rules for choosing well.
Contents
A daughter is on the way, or has just been born, and she needs a name she will carry all her life. In Islam the choice matters: the Prophet ﷺ himself changed names with unpleasant meanings. Here are 100 Muslim and Arabic names for a girl, grouped by family, with their Arabic spelling and meaning, followed by the rules to know and what happens on the seventh day.
How to choose a Muslim name for your daughter: 5 rules
- A beautiful meaning. The Prophet ﷺ renamed a woman called 'Asiya (the disobedient) Jamila (the beautiful), and Barra (the pious, a form of self-praise) Zaynab (reported by Muslim). Meaning comes before sound.
- Nothing that belongs to Allah alone. No name expressing absolute lordship, and no “Amat” (servant) before anyone other than Allah.
- No blameworthy, mocking or idolatrous meaning. Avoid names that mean nothing or whose origin is unknown.
- The names of pious women are recommended: Maryam, the wives and daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, the female Companions. An Arabic name is not required: Bilal and Salman kept their original names. What matters is the meaning.
- Father and mother choose together, and the name is given by the seventh day at the latest, with the Aqiqa and the shaving of the head.
Names of women from the Quran and the Prophet's ﷺ family
The safest and most beloved names: those of the women the Quran and the Sunnah hold up as examples.
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Maryam | مريم | Mary, mother of 'Isa; the only woman named in the Quran |
| Khadija | خديجة | First wife of the Prophet ﷺ; “born early” |
| Aisha | عائشة | Alive, full of life; wife of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Fatima | فاطمة | She who weans; daughter of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Zaynab | زينب | Fragrant tree; daughter of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Ruqayya | رقية | Gentleness, elevation; daughter of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Umm Kulthum | أم كلثوم | Full-faced; daughter of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Hafsa | حفصة | Lioness; wife of the Prophet ﷺ, keeper of the Quran |
| Safiyya | صفية | The pure, the chosen one |
| Sawda | سودة | Wife of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Maymuna | ميمونة | Blessed, fortunate |
| Juwayriya | جويرية | Little girl (affectionate diminutive) |
| Asiya | آسية | She who heals and comforts; the believing wife of Pharaoh |
| Hajar | هاجر | The emigrant; wife of Ibrahim, mother of Ismail |
| Sara | سارة | Princess, noble; wife of Ibrahim |
| Amina | آمنة | Safe, trustworthy; mother of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Halima | حليمة | Gentle, patient; wet nurse of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Sumayya | سمية | Elevated; first martyr of Islam |
| Asma | أسماء | Sublime, exalted; daughter of Abu Bakr |
| Nusayba | نسيبة | Of noble lineage; fought at Uhud |
| Rufayda | رفيدة | Little helper; first nurse in Islam |
| Bilqis | بلقيس | The Queen of Sheba |
| Rayhana | ريحانة | Basil, fragrant plant |
Classic Arabic names for a girl
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Amira | أميرة | Princess |
| Layla | ليلى | Night, sweetness of the night |
| Nour | نور | Light |
| Salma | سلمى | Safe, peaceful |
| Yasmin | ياسمين | Jasmine |
| Inas | إيناس | Friendliness, pleasant company |
| Lina | لينا | Tender; young palm tree |
| Hana | هناء | Happiness, bliss |
| Rania | رانية | She who gazes |
| Samia | سامية | Exalted, sublime |
| Nadia | نادية | Generous, she who calls |
| Farah | فرح | Joy |
| Dunya | دنيا | The world, this life |
| Kenza | كنزة | Treasure |
| Malak | ملك | Angel |
| Rahma | رحمة | Mercy |
| Nesrin | نسرين | Wild rose |
| Amal | أمل | Hope |
| Ilham | إلهام | Inspiration |
| Ikram | إكرام | Generosity, honour |
| Shaima | شيماء | Of fine features; foster sister of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Manal | منال | Attainment, gift |
| Reem | ريم | White gazelle |
| Thurayya | ثريا | The Pleiades |
| Zahra | زهراء | Radiant, flower; title of Fatima |
| Huda | هدى | Guidance |
| Iman | إيمان | Faith |
| Aya | آية | Verse, divine sign |
| Alya | علياء | Exalted, sublime |
| Nawal | نوال | Gift |
| Yusra | يسرى | Ease, prosperity |
| Sana | سناء | Brilliance, splendour |
| Hiba | هبة | Gift |
| Bushra | بشرى | Good news |
| Jamila | جميلة | Beautiful |
Short and modern names
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Jana | جنى | Fruit, harvest |
| Layan | ليان | Softness, tenderness |
| Tasnim | تسنيم | A spring in Paradise |
| Dalia | داليا | Grapevine |
| Basma | بسمة | Smile |
| Nada | ندى | Dew |
| Rahaf | رهف | Delicacy, finesse |
| Lujain | لجين | Silver |
| Jouri | جوري | Damask rose |
| Muna | منى | Wish, desire |
| Safa | صفا | Purity; hill in Makkah |
| Marwa | مروة | Hill in Makkah |
| Sahar | سحر | Dawn |
| Wafa | وفاء | Loyalty |
| Warda | وردة | Rose |
| Zina | زينة | Adornment |
| Duaa | دعاء | Supplication |
| Amani | أماني | Wishes, hopes |
| Hasna | حسناء | Beautiful |
| Naila | نائلة | She who attains, generous |
Rare and original names
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Batoul | بتول | Devoted to Allah; title of Maryam |
| Kawthar | كوثر | River of Paradise, abundance |
| Firdaws | فردوس | The highest level of Paradise |
| Sakina | سكينة | Serenity, tranquillity |
| Sajida | ساجدة | She who prostrates |
| Ihsan | إحسان | Benevolence, excellence |
| Ghufran | غفران | Forgiveness |
| Radia | راضية | Content, satisfied |
| Tahira | طاهرة | Pure |
| Zakia | زكية | Pure, virtuous |
| Lubna | لبنى | Storax tree |
| Maysa | ميساء | Of graceful gait |
| Lamia | لمياء | Dark-lipped, beautiful |
| Ghizlan | غزلان | Gazelles |
| Nasima | نسيمة | Gentle breeze |
| Suad | سعاد | Happiness |
| Widad | وداد | Affection |
| Wisal | وصال | Union, reunion |
| Umayma | أميمة | Little mother (diminutive) |
| Hind | هند | Ancient Arabic name borne by female Companions |
| Sirin | سيرين | Female Companion, sister of Maria the Copt |
| Amatullah | أمة الله | Servant of Allah |
Names to avoid
- Names that express self-praise (Barra, “the pious”): the Prophet ﷺ changed them.
- Names with an ugly or sad meaning (Hazn, “sorrow”), or an ill-omened meaning.
- Names of idols or tyrants, and anything with “Abd” or “Amat” before anyone other than Allah.
- Names whose origin and meaning are unknown, chosen for the sound alone.
The seventh day: name, Aqiqa and shaving
“Every child is held in pledge for its Aqiqa: it is sacrificed for on the seventh day, the child is named and its head is shaved.”
Reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i.
For a girl, the Aqiqa is one sheep. If you cannot sacrifice yourself, Sanabil carries it out for you: your daughter's name is written on the certificate and spoken at the time of the sacrifice, the meat is given to families in need, and you receive the video on WhatsApp. Read our full guide: Aqiqa: rules, girl or boy, when and how to do it remotely.
Found her name? Have her Aqiqa done in her name, with video.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Muslim name have to be Arabic?
No. What matters is a sound meaning and nothing contrary to the faith. Companions such as Salman the Persian and Bilal the Abyssinian kept their original names.
Can I give a compound name or a middle name?
Yes, nothing forbids it. Just check that each part has a good meaning and that the whole stays easy to use every day.
When should the name be announced: at birth or on the 7th day?
Both are allowed. The Prophet ﷺ named his son Ibrahim on the very night he was born, and the Aqiqa hadith recommends naming on the seventh day. Check your country's deadline for registering the birth (42 days in the UK, five days in France).
Should a name with an unpleasant meaning be changed?
It is recommended if the meaning is truly bad, as the Prophet ﷺ did. For a simple preference, you can keep the official name and use a nickname.
How many sheep for a girl's Aqiqa?
One sheep, compared with two for a boy, according to the hadith reported by Aisha. A late Aqiqa remains valid.
Take action
Carry out your child's Aqiqah, in their name
Sacrifice carried out according to the Sunnah, meat distributed to families in need, video sent on WhatsApp.
