Aqiqa·6 min read
Muslim boy names: 100 Arabic names with their meanings
Names of the prophets, names of Allah with “Abd”, Companions, classic and rare names: 100 boy names with their Arabic spelling and meaning, plus the Islamic rules for choosing well.
Contents
Choosing a boy's name is a lifelong decision: it is the name he will be called by, the name of his Aqiqa, the name he will pass on. Here are 100 Muslim and Arabic names for a boy, grouped by family, with the Arabic spelling and meaning, followed by the rules the Quran and the Sunnah give for choosing well.
How to choose a Muslim name for your son: 5 rules
- The names most beloved to Allah are 'Abdullah (servant of Allah) and 'Abd ar-Rahman (servant of the Most Merciful), according to the hadith reported by Muslim. Every name of Allah preceded by “Abd” follows the same logic.
- The names of the prophets are recommended: the Prophet ﷺ named his own son Ibrahim, after his forefather.
- A beautiful meaning. The Prophet ﷺ changed names with unpleasant meanings. Avoid anything ugly, mocking or linked to idolatry.
- Nothing that belongs to Allah alone: no “Malik al-Muluk” (king of kings, hadith of Bukhari and Muslim), no name of Allah used alone with the article (ar-Rahman), and never “Abd” before anyone other than Allah (Abd an-Nabi).
- The name is given by the seventh day at the latest, with the Aqiqa and the shaving of the head. Father and mother choose together.
Names of the prophets mentioned in the Quran
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | آدم | The first man; “from the earth” |
| Nuh | نوح | Noah; he who laments, patient |
| Idris | إدريس | Enoch; the studious one |
| Hud | هود | Prophet of the people of 'Ad |
| Salih | صالح | Righteous, pious; prophet of Thamud |
| Ibrahim | إبراهيم | Abraham; father of the prophets |
| Ismail | إسماعيل | Ishmael; “God has heard” |
| Ishaq | إسحاق | Isaac; “he will laugh” |
| Yaqub | يعقوب | Jacob; he who follows |
| Yusuf | يوسف | Joseph; “God adds” |
| Ayyub | أيوب | Job; he who returns to Allah, model of patience |
| Shuayb | شعيب | Jethro; prophet of Madyan |
| Musa | موسى | Moses; “drawn from the water” |
| Harun | هارون | Aaron; brother and support of Musa |
| Dawud | داود | David; the beloved |
| Sulayman | سليمان | Solomon; man of peace |
| Ilyas | إلياس | Elijah |
| Yunus | يونس | Jonah |
| Zakariya | زكريا | Zechariah; “God remembers” |
| Yahya | يحيى | John; “he lives” |
| Isa | عيسى | Jesus |
| Muhammad | محمد | The praised one, worthy of praise |
| Ahmad | أحمد | The most praiseworthy |
| Mustafa | مصطفى | The chosen one; title of the Prophet ﷺ |
Abdullah and the names of Allah with “Abd”
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abdullah | عبد الله | Servant of Allah |
| Abdurrahman | عبد الرحمن | Servant of the Most Merciful |
| Abdurrahim | عبد الرحيم | Servant of the Especially Merciful |
| Abdulkarim | عبد الكريم | Servant of the Generous |
| Abdulaziz | عبد العزيز | Servant of the Mighty |
| Abdulmalik | عبد الملك | Servant of the Sovereign |
| Abdulqadir | عبد القادر | Servant of the All-Capable |
| Abdulhakim | عبد الحكيم | Servant of the Wise |
| Abdullatif | عبد اللطيف | Servant of the Kind |
| Abdulhamid | عبد الحميد | Servant of the Praiseworthy |
| Abdussamad | عبد الصمد | Servant of the Eternal Refuge |
| Abdussalam | عبد السلام | Servant of Peace |
| Abdulghani | عبد الغني | Servant of the Self-Sufficient |
| Abdulwahhab | عبد الوهاب | Servant of the Bestower |
| Abdulmajid | عبد المجيد | Servant of the Glorious |
| Abdulfattah | عبد الفتاح | Servant of the Opener |
| Abdunnur | عبد النور | Servant of the Light |
| Abdulbasit | عبد الباسط | Servant of the Expander |
Names of the Companions and the Prophet's ﷺ family
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Umar | عمر | Long life; second caliph |
| Uthman | عثمان | Third caliph, “the one with two lights” |
| Ali | علي | Exalted, sublime; fourth caliph |
| Hamza | حمزة | Lion; uncle of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Hasan | حسن | Handsome, good; grandson of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Husayn | حسين | Little handsome one; grandson of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Bilal | بلال | Freshness, water; the first muezzin |
| Khalid | خالد | Eternal; “the sword of Allah” |
| Talha | طلحة | Acacia; one of the ten promised Paradise |
| Zubayr | الزبير | Strong, clever; one of the ten promised Paradise |
| Saad | سعد | Happiness, bliss |
| Said | سعيد | Happy |
| Anas | أنس | Friendliness, pleasant company; servant of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Muadh | معاذ | Protected |
| Salman | سلمان | Safe, at peace; Salman the Persian |
| Suhayb | صهيب | Red-haired; Suhayb the Roman |
| Ammar | عمار | Long-lived, builder |
| Zayd | زيد | Growth, abundance |
| Usama | أسامة | Lion |
| Jafar | جعفر | River, stream |
| Abbas | عباس | Stern-faced lion; uncle of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Musab | مصعب | Strong, untamed; first ambassador of Islam |
| Hudhayfa | حذيفة | Companion and confidant of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Ubada | عبادة | Worship |
| Suhayl | سهيل | The star Canopus |
Classic Arabic names for a boy
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Amin | أمين | Trustworthy; title of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Karim | كريم | Generous, noble |
| Rayyan | ريان | Quenched, flourishing; the gate of Paradise for those who fast |
| Yasin | ياسين | Letters opening surah 36 |
| Taha | طه | Letters opening surah 20 |
| Mahdi | مهدي | Rightly guided |
| Sufyan | سفيان | Swift, light; Sufyan ath-Thawri |
| Nasim | نسيم | Gentle breeze |
| Wasim | وسيم | Handsome, graceful |
| Sami | سامي | Exalted, sublime |
| Samir | سمير | Evening companion |
| Malik | مالك | Owner; Imam Malik |
| Imran | عمران | Prosperity; father of Maryam |
| Tariq | طارق | The morning star, he who knocks at the door |
| Walid | وليد | Newborn |
| Nabil | نبيل | Noble |
| Rashid | رشيد | Rightly guided, wise |
| Hakim | حكيم | Wise |
| Adil | عادل | Just |
| Amir | أمير | Prince, leader |
| Aziz | عزيز | Dear, mighty |
| Ayman | أيمن | Blessed, fortunate; of the right hand |
| Bashir | بشير | Bearer of good news |
| Faris | فارس | Horseman, knight |
| Faysal | فيصل | Decisive judge |
| Marwan | مروان | Flint stone |
| Murad | مراد | Desired, wished for |
| Mahmud | محمود | Praised |
| Jamal | جمال | Beauty |
| Farid | فريد | Unique |
| Fuad | فؤاد | Heart |
| Habib | حبيب | Beloved |
| Kamal | كمال | Perfection |
| Munir | منير | Luminous |
| Salim | سليم | Sound, whole |
| Ziyad | زياد | Growth, abundance |
Short, modern and rare names
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Zayn | زين | Beauty, adornment |
| Jad | جاد | Generous |
| Qays | قيس | Firm, measured |
| Nail | نائل | He who attains, who gives |
| Naim | نعيم | Bliss, delight |
| Wail | وائل | He who seeks refuge, returns |
| Iyad | إياد | Support, strength |
| Tamim | تميم | Complete, perfect |
| Luay | لؤي | Ancestor of the Prophet ﷺ; wild bull |
| Badr | بدر | Full moon |
| Anwar | أنور | Most luminous |
| Haytham | هيثم | Young eagle |
| Jawad | جواد | Generous; thoroughbred horse |
| Luqman | لقمان | The wise man mentioned in the Quran |
| Rida | رضا | Contentment, satisfaction |
| Sabri | صبري | Patient |
| Salah | صلاح | Righteousness, reform |
| Sayf ad-Din | سيف الدين | Sword of the religion |
| Tayyib | طيب | Good, pure |
| Yasir | ياسر | Easy-going, prosperous |
| Zuhayr | زهير | Little flower, radiant |
| Ihsan | إحسان | Benevolence, excellence |
| Rauf | رؤوف | Compassionate |
| Rafiq | رفيق | Companion, gentle |
| Ghassan | غسان | Vigour of youth |
| Nizar | نزار | Rare, precious |
| Fadil | فاضل | Virtuous, deserving |
Names to avoid
- A name of Allah used alone when it is His exclusively (ar-Rahman, al-Khaliq). Karim, Aziz, Hakim or Malik are allowed because they also describe people.
- “Abd” before anyone other than Allah: Abd an-Nabi, Abd al-Kaaba, Abd al-Husayn.
- Names of tyrants or enemies of the faith (Firawn, Qarun, Abu Lahab), and those linked to idolatry.
- Names with an ugly or mocking meaning, and the names of angels according to the cautious view of some scholars.
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 boy, the Aqiqa is two sheep, or one if means are limited. If you cannot sacrifice yourself, Sanabil carries it out for you: your son'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 his name? Have his Aqiqa done in his name, with video.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Muslim name for a boy?
According to the hadith reported by Muslim, the names most beloved to Allah are 'Abdullah and 'Abd ar-Rahman. Then come the names of the prophets and of righteous men.
Can I name my son Muhammad?
Yes, it is one of the most widespread names in the world, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “Name yourselves with my name.” It is often paired with a second name used day to day.
Does a Muslim name have to be Arabic?
No. The meaning matters, not the language. Salman the Persian, Suhayb the Roman and Bilal the Abyssinian kept their original names.
When should the name be given: at birth or on the 7th day?
Both are allowed. The Prophet ﷺ named his son Ibrahim on the night he was born; the Aqiqa hadith recommends the seventh day. Check your country's deadline for registering the birth (42 days in the UK, five days in France).
How many sheep for a boy's Aqiqa?
Two similar sheep, according to the hadith reported by Aisha. One is accepted if means are limited, and 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.
