48 Arabic Names and Their Meanings, in Calligraphy

These are 48 Arabic names whose meaning is settled, each with the sense it carries and the Latin spellings people use for it. Every name links to its own page, where it is already written in Diwani, Thuluth and Nastaliq, ready to open in Mashq Studio or to order framed. Names whose meaning is disputed by serious sources are left out rather than guessed at: a shop that misexplains someone's own name has lost them before the price is read.

Names for girls

• «فاطمة» Fatima: One who weans — traditionally read as she who is set apart. Also written Fatimah, Fatema, Fatma.
• «مريم» Mariam: The Arabic form of Mary. Also written Maryam, Mariyam, Meryem.
• «سارة» Sara: Princess — the Arabic form of Sarah. Also written Sarah, Sarra.
• «ليلى» Layla: Night — the dark of it, and by extension its beauty. Also written Laila, Leila, Leyla, Lyla.
• «شيخة» Sheikha: A woman of standing; the feminine of sheikh. Also written Shaikha, Shaykha.
• «موزة» Moza: A single pearl. Also written Mouza, Mowza.
• «لطيفة» Latifa: Gentle, subtle, kind. Also written Lateefa, Latifah.
• «عائشة» Aisha: Living, alive. Also written Aysha, Ayesha, Aicha.
• «حصة» Hessa: A share, a portion — one’s rightful part. Also written Hessah, Hissa.
• «منى» Mona: Wishes, things hoped for. Also written Muna, Mouna.
• «هند» Hind: An old Arabic name; also used of a group of camels. Also written Hend.
• «دانة» Dana: A large, perfectly formed pearl. Also written Danah, Daana.
• «ريم» Reem: A white gazelle. Also written Rim, Ream.
• «شمة» Shamma: A scent, a trace of fragrance. Also written Shammah.
• «خديجة» Khadija: An early Arabic name, borne by the Prophet’s first wife. Also written Khadeeja, Khadijah.
• «زينب» Zainab: A fragrant flowering tree. Also written Zaynab, Zeinab, Zeynep.
• «سلمى» Salma: Safe, sound, at peace. Also written Selma, Salmaa.
• «جميلة» Jamila: Beautiful. Also written Jameela, Jamilah.
• «أمل» Amal: Hope. Also written Amaal, Aml.
• «هدى» Huda: Right guidance. Also written Hoda, Houda.
• «رنا» Rana: To gaze at something beautiful without looking away. Also written Ranaa.
• «لينا» Lina: A young palm; also softness. Also written Leena, Lena.
• «ثريا» Thuraya: The Pleiades. Also written Suraya, Soraya, Thurayya.
• «غالية» Ghalia: Precious, dearly held. Also written Ghaliya, Ghalya.
• «علياء» Alia: Exalted, of high standing. Also written Aliya, Alya, Aaliyah.
• «شهد» Shahad: Honey — the pure comb of it. Also written Shahd.

Names for boys

• «أحمد» Ahmed: Most praiseworthy — the superlative of the same root as Mahmoud and Muhammad. Also written Ahmad, Ahmet.
• «محمد» Mohammed: The praised one — the one who is repeatedly praised. Also written Muhammad, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhammed.
• «علي» Ali: High, elevated. Also written Aly, Ally.
• «عمر» Omar: Long-lived, flourishing. Also written Umar, Omer.
• «زايد» Zayed: Abundance, increase. Also written Zayid, Zaayed.
• «حمدان» Hamdan: Much praise. Also written Hamdaan.
• «راشد» Rashid: Rightly guided, of sound judgement. Also written Rasheed, Rashed.
• «سلطان» Sultan: Authority — and the one who holds it. Also written Soltan.
• «خالد» Khalid: Eternal, lasting. Also written Khaled, Kalid.
• «سعيد» Saeed: Happy, fortunate. Also written Said, Saïd, Sayeed.
• «عبدالله» Abdullah: Servant of God. Also written Abdallah, Abdulla.
• «حسن» Hassan: Good, handsome, excellent. Also written Hasan, Hassaan.
• «حسين» Hussein: The diminutive of Hassan — little Hassan, an endearment. Also written Husayn, Husain, Hosein.
• «يوسف» Yousef: The Arabic form of Joseph. Also written Yusuf, Youssef, Yousif.
• «إبراهيم» Ibrahim: The Arabic form of Abraham. Also written Ebrahim, Brahim.
• «جاسم» Jassim: Great, of large build. Also written Jasim, Jassem.
• «ماجد» Majid: Glorious, noble. Also written Majed, Maged.
• «طارق» Tariq: One who knocks at the door by night; also the morning star. Also written Tarek, Tarik, Tareq.
• «نايف» Nayef: High, surpassing. Also written Naif, Nayif.
• «بدر» Badr: The full moon. Also written Bader, Badar.

Names for either

• «نور» Noor: Light. Also written Nour, Nur, Noora, Nooran.
• «جود» Joud: Generosity, open-handedness. Also written Jood, Jude.

A name, framed

Your name in Arabic calligraphy is AED 185 framed at A3 (AED 75 as a rolled canvas), in Diwani, Thuluth or Nastaliq, made in our workshop in 5–7 working days. The spelling is confirmed with you before anything is printed. For any name not listed here, write it in Mashq Studio, free, or see all 296 names on the names page.

Related reading: Customised Gift Ideas in Arabic Calligraphy, by Occasion and Budget · 43 Arabic Phrases for Wall Art, With Their Meanings.

Every name here can be ordered as a framed piece or another gift with the name on it: see personalised Arabic calligraphy gifts, from AED 50.

Part of our guide to personalised Arabic name gifts: getting the spelling right, choosing the script, and timing.

About this guide: written by MASHQ, which makes Arabic calligraphy pieces to order in its UAE workshop and builds Mashq Studio (1click2open LLC, Sharjah). What we print, what we cut and what a calligrapher writes by hand — and when we confirm a spelling before anything is made — is on how a piece is made.