| (Reprinted from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, NCCIX, January 2002) ARAB NAMES
For those familiar with the European tradition of using just a forename, optional middle name and surname, names in the Arab world can seem perplexing because they can run into enormous length. However, there is a logical structure to the Arab naming convention that, once seen, makes it simple to decipher a person's recent ancestry. For example:
A man's name is Ali bin Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Fulani. He is called Ali by his friends and family. His family name is Al- Fulani.
What does bin Ahmed bin Saleh mean? This simply means that he is the son of Ahmed who is in turn the son of Saleh.
Bin means son of. So we have the man's given name, his father's name and his grandfather's name, plus the family name. As a matter of fact, many Gulf Arabs and Saudis can give their ancestors' names for at least five or six generation, and often many more. Let's look now at the names of the present rulers of Gulf states. -The ruler of Saudi Arabia is Fahad bin Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Sa 'ud. His father's name was Abdul Aziz and his grandfather's name was Abdul Rahman. The family name is Al-Sa'ud. -The ruler of Bahrain is Isa bin Salman bin Hamad AI-Khalifa. His father's name was Salman and his grandfather's name was Hamad. The family name is AI-Khalifa. -The ruler of Oman is Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur AI-Busaid. His father's name was Said and his grandfather's name was Taimur. The family name is Al-Busaid. -The ruler of Qatar is Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al- Thani. His father's name is Khalifa and his grandfather's name was Hamad. The family name is Al- Thani. -The Crown Prince of the UAE is Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan AI-Nahyan. His father's name is Zayed and his grandfather's name was Sultan. The family name is AI-Nahyan. What about women's names?
Our friend Ali (in the first example above) has a sister. Her name is Nura bint Ahmed bin Saleh AI- Folani.
Bint means daughter of. She is named Nura, the daughter of Ahmed who is the son of Saleh. So we have her given name, her father's name, her grandfather's name and the family name. It is interesting to note that when a Saudi or Gulf Arab woman marries, she does not change her name. When the above mentioned Nura marries, her name remains exactly the same. Her children, however, take their father's name. In other words, Nora bint Ahmed bin Saleh AI-Folani is born with this name and she dies with it. Let us say she marries a man with the name of Abdollah bin Mohammed bin Faisal AI-Hijazi. Their sons are (Name) bin Abdollah bin Mohammed bin Faisal AI-Hijazi, and their daughters are (Name) bint Abdollah bin Mohammed bin Faisal AI-Hijazi.
Patronymics for unmarried women and used as a surname are "bint". Kahina bint Haidar would mean Kahina, the daughter of Haidar. After marriage, and when she has children, she would use the patronymic "umm" for mother of, and the name of her first-born son, i.e. "Kahina Umm Abu" (Kahina, the mother of Abu). bint -meaning “daughter of” umm -meaning “the mother of” A
Abdah, Abia, Abida, Abir, , Abla (pre-Islamic: full, fine figure), adara, Adila, Afaf, Afra, Ahlam, A 'isha, Ain, Akram, Alima, Alya, Amal, Amani, Amimah, Aminah, Amira, Amna, Ara, Arub, Arwa (young goat), Ashraf, Asiya, Asthma, Atifeh, Atikah, Awatif, Ayda, Aziza, , Azza (pre-Islamic). B
Badr, Bahiga, Bahija, Bahira, Banah, Barika, Basimah, Basma, Bibi, Bilqis, Budur, Busyna, Buthayna C
Cab'ah, Calah, Cantara D
Dahah, Daifa, DalaI, Dalia, Danamir, Dima (thunder-free rain), Du'a, Duqaq E
Ehteram, Elaheh, Elham, Elmira, Emine F
Fadia, Fadila, Fadl, Faizah, Fakhirya, Farah, Faridah, Fatimah, Fatin, Fatma,Fayza, Fidda, Fukayna, Fayruz, Fidda, Fizza G
Ghada, Ghadir (brook), Ghaniyah, Ghaythah, Ghufran H
Hababah, Habibah, Hadil, Hadya, Hafsa, Hagir, Haideh, Hajar, Haleh, Halima, Hamideh, Hana, Hiba, Huda, Humai, Husniyah I
Ihab, Ihsan, Ilm, Iman, Inam, Inan, Ismat, Isra, Itidal J
Jaida, Jalila, Jamal, Jamilah, Jannat, Jasmine, Javairia, Jawahir, Jinan, Juml K
Kahena, Kahina, Karam, Karima (generous), Khalida, Khayriyya (charity), Kobra, Kokab L
Laila, Lamya, Layla (pre-Islamic: wine), Leila, Leylah, Lina, Lissa, Lubna (pre-Islamic), Lujayn (small piece of silver), Luluah M
Madihah, Maha, Mahasin, Mahlagna, Maiza, Malak, Maliheh, Manal, Manar, Manhalah, Mariyah, Marwa, Maryam, Marzieh, Maysa, Mayy, Mirvat, Monir, Muhsina, Muna, Munira, Munna, Muslimah, Myisha N
Nabila, Nada (dew), Nadereh, Nadira, Nadra, Nadya (moist with dew), Nagat, Nagiba, Nagla, Nagwa, Naheed, Nahida, Nah1a (drinkofwater), Na'ila, Na'ima, Najat, Najiba, Najila, Najwa, Naseem, Nasim, Nathifa, Nawal, Nibal, Nihab, Nihad, Nihal (seatedwith drink), Ni'mat, Nini, Noura, Nuha, Nu'm, Nuri O
Oma Q
Qabihah, Qabul, Qaribah, Qubilah R
Rabab, Rabiah, Radwa, Raful, Raghda, Raja, Rajya, Randa, Ranya, Rashida, Rawiya, Raym, Rayya, Rida, Rim (white antelope), Ruqayya, Ruqayyah, Rusa S
Sabah, Sabra, Sadaf, Saduf, Safa, Safia, Safinaz, Safiyya, Safwah, Saham, Sahar, Sahba, Sajah, Sakan, Salameh, Salha, Saliha, Salwa, Samar, Sameen, Samiha, Samira, Samya, Sana, Sanam, Saniyya, Sara, Sarab, Sehba, Semeeah, Shadya, Shafiqa, Shahira, Shahrazad, Sharifa, Sheba, Shukriyya, Siha, Sisi, Su'ad,
Suhad, Su1rna, Sumnah, Surayya T
Taghrid, Taherah, Tahiyya, Talayeh, Tannaz, Tarifa, Tarub, Tayyebeh, Thara, Thuhayba (small bar of gold), Thurayya, Touba U
Ulayyah, Umayma (little mother), Urnniya, Utbah, Uzma W
Wafa, Wahiba, Wahshiyah, Warwar, Widad Y
Yasmin, Yusra, Yusriyya Z
Zada, Zahr, Zahrah, Zakiyya, Zara, Zaria, Zaynab, Zebeebah, Zizi, Zubaydah, Zuhayr, Zukha, Zulaikha
Patronymics are usually used as a surname.
For a man who is unmarried, he may go by the patronymic of "ibn " or "bin ", i.e. AmiD bin Hamad (AmiD, the SOD of Hamad). After marriage, and when he has children, he would use the patronymic "abu" for father of, and the name of his first-born son. An example would be " AmiD abu Hashim", for AmiD, the father of Hashim. Occupations are also used with the prefix "al". ibn/bin -meaning "son of' abu -meaning "the father of' 'abd -meaning "servant of' al -meaning "the ( occupation) A
Abbas (lion), Abbud, , Abd al-Aziz (servant of the Mighty One), , Abd al-Baki, , Abd al-Hamid (servant of the Praise worthy One), , Abd al-Malik (servant of the king), Abd' Allah (servant of Allah), Abir, Abu (the father oj), Ade1/Adil (just), Adnan (pre-Islamic), Ahrnad/Ahrned (more commendable), Akbar, Akil, Akram, Ala (supreme), Ali (exalted), Amal, Amin (honest), Amir (prince), Amjad (more glorious), Arnr (to thrive), Anbar, Arif, As'ad (happier) (luckier/happier), Asghar, Ashraf (more honorable), Asim (the protector), Aslam, Aswad, Attiah/Attiyah (prepared), Ayman (blessed), Ayub, Ayyub, Az'ar, Az'regh, Aziz (powerful, beloved), Azizudeen B
Badda, Badr (full moon), Baha (magnificence), Bahir (dazzling), Bahjat (joy), Bakhitiyar, Bakr/Bakor (young camel), Balban, Balj, Baqiyya, Barmak, Basasira, Bashshar, Basim (smiling; Bassam (smiling), Beddis, Berkan, Bezz'i, Bouid, Bursuq, Butrus D
Dabir, Dali, Da'ud, Dawud (form of David, means beloved), Dekel, Dharr, Diya (radiant), Duqaq, Durayd E
Ebi, Ebrahim, Ehsan, Emad, Esmaeel F
Fadi (redeemer), Fadil (generous), Fadl (generosity, grace), Fahd (panther, also strength and courage), Fahim (intelligent one), Faiz, Fakhr/Fakhir (glory), Fakhri (to be proud), Faraj (remedy), Farraj, Farid (unique), Faruq (one who knows right from wrong and truth from falsehood), Fathi (victor), Fawzi (victory), Fayiz (victor), Faysal (ajudge, one who distinguishes right from wrong), Fihr, Fikri (intellectual), Firas, Firhun, Fu'ad (heart) G
Gadi, Ghalib (conqueror), Ghanai'm, Ghanim, Ghassan (prime of youth), Ghayth (rain), Ghazi, Gildun, Gulussa, Gulzar (flourish) H
Rabib (beloved), Radi (to guide in a religious sense), Radya (to guide in a religious sense), Rafiz (guardian), Raidar, Rajjaj, Rakeem/Hakim (judicious), Ramdan, Ramet, Ramid (thankful), Ramza/Hamzah (to be strong), Rani (joyful), Ranef/Hanif (true believer of Islam), Rarith (lion, a good provider), Raroun/Harun (exalted), Rasan (handsome), Rashim (to destroy), Rasim (decision maker), Rassan, Ratim (determined), Raytham (young eagle pride), Redayat, R'emmu, Reydar, Riba, Ribah, Rikmat (wisdom), Rila1,Rilel, Rimnli, Risham (to crush), Risein/Hossein/Hussain (handsome and good), Rotha, Ruda (to guide in a religious sense), Rumam, Rusam, Rusayn (handsome and good), Rusni (excellence) I
Ibrahim (form of Abraham, meansfather ofmany), Ifni, Ifser, Iften, Ighlaf, Igider, Igmi, Ihab (a gift), Iher, Ihsan (charity), Iken, Ilyas, Imam, Immeghar, Immel, Iraten, Irgen, 'Isa (Jesus), Isfahan, Isli, Issam (to protect), Ishaq (Isaac), Isma'il (God hears), Ismat (to protect), Isra'il, Itbir, Itri, It'ij, Ixzi J
Ja'bar, Jabir/Jabbar (the comforter), Jabr (consolation), Ja'far (small river), Ja'lal (greatness), Ja'mal (beauty), Jamil (handsome), Javad, Jawdat (excellence), Jawhar, Jericho, Jibril, Jinan (paradise), Jubair, Jurdik K
Kadar, Kadidu, Kadin, Kadir, Ka'im, Kalil, Kamal (perfection), Kamil (perfect), Karam (generosity), Kardal, Karidena, Karif, Karim (noble, great), Kasib, Kateb (writer), Kenan, Keraja, Khalid (eternal), Khalil (best friend), Khayrat (good deed, or charity), Khayri (charity), Khayrat (charity), Khurdadhbih, Kutaiba L
Labid, Lahab, Lu'la'a, Lu'lu, Luqman M
Madidu, Mahir, Mahbub, Mahmud (praiseworthy), Maimun, Majdi (glorious one), Majduddin, Majid (glorious), Majnun, Makram (noble), Malik, Malu, Mamduh (praised), Ma'mun (trustworthy), Manal (achiever), Manar (to illuminate), Mansur (victorious), Marid, Masgaba, Masmud, Masruq, Massin, Mas'ud (fortunate one), Masudi, Maudad, Maziba, Mazin (rain clouds), Meddar, Mehdi, Mejdan, Mellal, Meq'wran, Mezwar, Mika'il, Mimum, Mojtaba, Mubarak (blessed one), Muhammad (praiseworthy),
Muhsin (charitable), Muhyiduddin, Mu'in, Mukhtar (chosen), Mun'im (to bestow), Munir (to illuminate), Murshid, Musa (form ofMoses, means drawn out of the water), Mus'ad (lucky one), Musaykah, Mushtaq, Mu'tasim (one who seeks refuge in Allah), Muwas, Mutawakkil, Mu'taz/Mu'tazz (powerful one) N
Nabil (noble), Nadim (drinking companion), Nadir (precious; rare), Na'il (attainer), Na'im (content one), Naji (saved), Najib (of noble descent), Namdar, Nasawi, Nasir (victorious), Nasr (victory), Nguna, Nizar (uncertain origin), Nuh, Numair, Nur (to illuminate) O
Omar, Othman, Owais, Oukesson Q
Qadir (capable), Qamar, Qaraja, Qasim (charitable one; a giver to the people), Qays, Qusay (distant), Qutaiba, Qutuz R
Rabi, Ra'd, Radi, Radwan, Rafi, Rafiq, Raghid, Rahim, Rahman, Raisul, Rajab (to glorify), R'akibum, Ramadan, Rashad (to guide), Rashid (to guide in a religious sense), Ra'uf (merciful), Reza, Rida (contentment), Ridwan, Riyad (garden), Rushdi (to guide), Ruzbihan, Ruzzik S
Sabah, Sabir (enduring), Sa'd (luck; fortunate), Sadaqat, Sadiq, Safwat (choice), Sa'id (lucky), Sajid, Sakhr (solid rock), Salah (righteous), Salih (virtuous), Salama (secure), Salim (safe), Sami, Samir, Sattar, Sayyar, Sayyid, Sbaih, Seghada, Seif, Sekla, Selim, Sha'ban, Shadi, Shafiq, Shahriar, Shakir, Shamit, Sharif, Shukri, Sifal, Sifaks, Soheil, Suggut, Suhayl, Sulaiman, Sulayman, Sunqur T
Tabat, Takfren, Tahir, Talal (fine rain), Talib, Tamir, Tammam, Tarafa, T'ar'iq, Tashfin, Tayyib, Tegama, Tiljad, Todros, Tulun, Tutush U
Ubaida, Ugdada, Uksem, Umar, Uqessun, Urz'ig, Usama (lion), Usman, Uthman, Uzmir W
Wafid, Wagih, Wahib, Wa'il, Wasim, Wathiq, Watt'as, Wayaasi Y
Yaghoub, Yahyah, Yanni, Ya'qub, Yasar, Yasin, Yasir, Yazdanyar, Yazid, Yeften, Yeh'lem, Yellel, Yidir, Yildirim, Yousef, Yuba, Yusri, Yusuf Z
Zafar, Zahir, Zaid, Zaki, Zang, Zayd, Zayn, Z'effun, Zer'wal, Zia, Z'idan, Ziyadatallah, Zubair, Zuhayr (little flower)
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