Choosing a name for your son can be a challenge. We’re here to help you with this list of handsome Arabic names for boys. These names are some of the most popular monikers around the world. Arabic names not only sound fantastic, but they also are also rich in history and often have especially deep and powerful meanings.
The Arabic saying “strive to have a part of your name,” suggests that in the Arab tradition personal names are projected attributes desired for the children when the parents bestow the names on their offspring. There’s also a popular saying among the pious, “if you have a thousand sons, call them all Muhammad.” This probably explains why it’s the most popular given name in the entire world. From time-tested to some fun outliers and unique spellings, we’ve found 25 Arabic baby names for boys that we think you’ll love.
25. Omar
The 12th-century Persian poet, astronomer, and mathematician Omar Khayyam is probably the most recognizable example of an influential person with this beautiful name. Omar is a very popular name in Arab and Muslim populations with Semitic origins. The name means “eloquent.”
24. Muhammad
Muhammad, one of the top 10 Arabic baby names for boys is the most popular name for children in many countries around the world including Europe. Millions of men and boys bear the name around the globe. This beautiful and significant name means “praiseworthy.”
23. Khalil
Khalil or Khaleel is a boy’s name of Arabic origin meaning “friend.” The name was first brought into the American awareness by the Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
22. Ahmed
Ahmed is an Arabic name that means “greatly praised.” This variation of Ahmad is one of the most popular Arabic names among Muslim families the world over and is now the most used spelling in the USA.
21. Hassan
Hassan or Hasan is a handsome name with Arabic origins meaning “handsome.” Hassan is a very popular name for boys in the US with it appearing in the top 1000 names every year since 1971.
20. Zayd
Zayd is a boy’s name of Arabic origin meaning “increase” or “growth.” Zayd (or its most common variant spelling: Zaid) is an old and still, well used Arabic name. Zaid was a slave whom Muhammad adopted as his son.
19. Zahir
Another Z-name with Arabic origins, Zahir means “helper.” Zahir is regarded as one of the 99 names of Allah. It’s a very popular name across the Middle East and elsewhere.
18. Fahd
Fahd is a boy’s name of Arabic origin meaning “panther” or “leopard.” Once unheard of by many English speakers, this name has become extremely favored. Alternative spellings for this name include Fahad and Fahed.
17. Rashid
Rashid is a popular name for boys that means “rightly guided.” Rashid is also one of the 99 names of Allah.
16. Mansur
Mansur is an Arabic name that means “the one who is victorious.” It comes from the Arabic word for “victory.” Mansur Al-Hallaj is a major figure in the Sufi tradition and was a poet, preacher, and teacher. He is best known for his saying: “I am the truth.” Mansur is alternately spelled, Mansour or Mansoor.
15. Saladin
Saladin is a very popular Arabic name for boys that means “peace through faith.” Saladin was the first sultan of Egypt and Syria and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
14. Bashir
The name Bashir means “one who brings good news.” What a beautiful meaning! Bashir Salahuddin is an American actor, writer, and very funny comedian who reps the name well.
13. Amal
Amal is a unisex name that’s found in both Hebrew and Arabic. The name means “hope.” Amal is a gentle, peaceful name that would be an excellent choice for your son.
12. Farooq
Farooq has about a million alternative spellings that include Farouk, Faruqi, Farook, Faruk, Faroeq, Faruq, or Farouq, or Farooqi. The name means “the one who distinguishes between right and wrong.”
11. Zaki
Zaki is an Arabic and Swahili name means “full of virtue” or “pure.” Zaki Nassif was influential among the first generation of composers who reached massive audiences through the radio for the first time in Lebanon in the 1940s and 1950s.
10. Sharif
Sharif or Sherif is an Arabic name that means “noble” and can be used as a title. It is used to describe the descendants of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson al-Hassan ibn Ali.
9. Ata
Ata is a short and sweet name that appears frequently in several languages including Arabic, Turkish, and Fante. The name means “gift” in Arabic. Ata works great as the first element of a compound name. For example, Ata-ur-Rahman means “gift of the most merciful.”
8. Hakeem
Muhammad approved all 99 attributes of Allah as worthy names, and Hakeem is one of the most popular. The name has appeared in the top 1000 every year since 1998. In 2016, it was one of the fastest-rising names for boys. Hakeem means “judicious.”
7. Malik
Another popular name in the US, Malik has Arabic origins and means “king.” American actor Abdul-Malik Kashie “Malik” Yoba, best known for playing Detective J. C. William on New York Undercover, has this winning name.
6. Ali
Another one of the 99 names of Allah, Ali means “champion.” Islamic traditional use of the name goes back to the Islamic leader Ali ibn Abi Talib but the name is also present among some pre-Islamic Arabs. In the US, the most recognizable example is probably “the greatest” boxer Muhammad Ali.
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5. Yusuf
Yusuf has origins in Arabic and Aramaic. The name means “Allah increases.” There are many ways to spell this beautiful name including Jusuf, Yousef, Yossef, and Yousif. That only scratches the surface!
4. Abdullah
Abdullah means “servant of Allah.” The name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s father was Abdullah. Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has been the King of Jordan since 1999.
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3. Mustafa
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 has Arabic origins and means “the chosen one.”
2. Idris
Idris is the Islamic prophet mentioned in the Qur’an who was a tailor and is believed to be the first person to write. Idris is a beautiful name that means “smart” or “to learn.” Idris I of Morocco was the first ruler and founder of the Idrisid Dynasty of Morocco.
1. Qasim
Name of a son of the Prophet Muhammad, Qasim is always a warmly received name. The name means “charitable.” American record producer and musician Swizz Beatz was born Kasseem Dean. Qasim, Kasseem, Qazeem, Qasem, and Kassim are all spellings for this gorgeous name.
There you have it! From Abdullah to Zahir, 25 Arabic names for baby boys. These wonderful names are beloved around the world by millions.