The Most Beautiful Arabic Names and What They Mean

Arabic Plate
Arabic Plate | © Ged Caroll / Flickr

Freelance Writer

The Arabic language is as rich and complex as its history. One different letter or intonation can change the meaning of a word drastically. This makes the language’s names diverse and deeply rooted in history. Here are some of the most beautiful names in the Arabic language.

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Aya

A widespread name with roots in many languages, Aya is given to girls. In Arabic it is a Quranic name derived from the word which means “verse”. It is not only “Quranic verse”, but holds the connotations of “miracle” and “existence of God”.

Amal

Sami

Meaning “transcendent”, Sami is a name given to boys. It’s popular throughout the world with variants in Germanic languages as it is derived from Samuel.

Dalia

Dalia is a name with roots in Arabic and Hebrew. In Arabic, it stems from the word for grapevine or vineyard and is given to girls. What makes it special is its lyrical quality and softness (pronounced Da-Lya).

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Karim

Pronounced Ka-Reem, the name means generous and is given to boys. It is both a common word in the Arabic language and a deeply meaningful Islamic name. It is one of the 99 “names” which were revealed to humanity as adjectives used to describe God.

Dounia

Perhaps one of the most beautiful names in the Arabic language, Dounia means “the world” and is given to girls. Pronounced Du-Nya, the names takes on deep philosophical meaning, as in the Islamic names Al Hayat Al Dounia comes to mean finite life. This makes the name Dounia a description of what it is to be a human being.

Hadi

Another one of the “Blessed names of God”, Hadi means “who gifts” and is a name given to boys. The connotation being here that God has gifted religion onto the world.

Kamal

Kamal is a boy’s name meaning perfection, beauty and completion. It is derived from the word Kamal-Al Din which means the perfection of religion. The meaning perfection of course cannot escape its deep and philosophical connotation.

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Leila

A girl’s name, Lay-La, is derived from the Arabic word for night and can be used as the singular form of the word. It became popular after the spread of A Thousand and One Nights (Alf Leila w Leila). The word itself means ecstasy and intoxication, giving it a deeper layer of meaning.

Nadia

Pronounced Nad-Ya, the girl’s name is widespread with origins in Bulgarian and Russian. In Arabic it means tender and delicate. It is derived from the name Nada which means “dew”.

Salem

A boy’s name, Salem means peaceful and complete. It can also be used as the word for safe and sound. Salem has a rich and complex history with roots in Hebrew.

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