Beautiful Moroccan Names And What They Mean

Naming your child in Morocco isn’t simply a case of choosing a beautiful Arabic word you like: the Civil Registry will only register approved names, and the criteria are strict. Here are the most beautiful Moroccan names and what they mean.

The rules, as set down by the government, dictate using recognisable, long-standing Arab names: “attributes of Allah” with the prefix “Abd” (servant of); name s of Islamic origin, where the pronunciation is clear; and names with Hebrew roots for Moroccans of Jewish descent. Greater flexibility is urged for names chosen by Imazighen (the official term for Berber) people – but many names that are approved in Morocco come from Arab roots anyway.

Abdel

In Morocco, the boy’s name Abdel means “servant of Allah”, and is often used in conjunction with Rahman, Kader, Aziz Rahim and Salam. It can also be spelt Abdul.

Abdellah

This is another Islamic classic, meaning “worshipper of God”. The spelling is different from the version commonly used all over the world, Abdullah, but the name is every bit as sonorous.

Adam

Known universally, this name derives from the Hebrew adama, meaning “red earth”, so Adam is literally “the son of red earth”. The Moroccan pronunciation would be aa-dam. Adam was the first man, according to Christianity, Islam and Judaism, so it’s a name that’s as old as civilisation.

Adil

Adil is a one-syllable boy’s name that is short and sweet in every sense of the phrase; it simply means “fair, just and insightful”.

Ahmed

Used as both a first and last name, Ahmed has roots in Arabic and means “praiseworthy” or “the most praised one”. Its variation, Ahmad, is a popular boy’s name among Muslim families, too, and is also spelt Ahmad.

Rachida

This girl’s name is a Moroccan version of Rashida, and means “one who is guided in the right direction”.

Rihanna

Rihanna can also be spelled as Rehana and has a lovely, fragrant meaning: sweet basil. Rihanna is derived from rihane, which is the Arabic name for the sweet basil herb’s pretty flower.

Sabrina

If you want your daughter to have patience and endurance, call her Sabrina, also spelled Sabreena; it derives from the Arabic word for those qualities, sabr.

Salma

Related to the name Salima, and meaning “peace and safety”, Salma is a positive name for a baby girl, which may explain its widespread popularity.

Sara

This is an Arabic word meaning “happy”; the popular western name Sarah derives from it. It’s a popular girl’s name in Morocco and features in religious texts, referring to the wife of Abraham.

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