200+ Arabic Baby Girl Names With Meaning (2026)

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Arabic works differently than a lot of naming traditions: most names trace back to a three-letter root, and that root carries its meaning wherever it goes — so you’re rarely just picking a pretty sound, you’re picking a concept. That’s part of why these names land as both melodic and meaningful; the sound and the sense come from the same three letters. Below you’ll find 200-plus options for a daughter, each one broken down by what it actually means and where it comes from.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Names From the Quran and Early Islamic Tradition

Names That Sound Like Light

Floral and Botanical Names

Classical and Vintage Names Coming Back

Modern Gulf and Levantine Names

North African and Andalusian Names

Names With Strong, Brave, or Powerful Meanings

Names Borrowed Beautifully From Persian, Turkish, and Other Neighbors

Short, Two-Syllable Names That Travel Well

For families with Arab heritage — whether you grew up in Cairo, Casablanca, Detroit, or Dubai — choosing an Arabic name is often the first inheritance you hand your daughter. For families outside that tradition who are simply drawn to the music of these names, there’s a quiet expectation that you’ll know what they mean and where they come from. The good news: most Arabic names wear their meaning openly, and once you know the root, you’ll start hearing it everywhere.

This list pulls from classical Arabic poetry, Quranic figures, the names of women in early Islamic history, regional favorites across the Levant, the Gulf, North Africa, and the diaspora, plus the more modern names that have risen in the last few decades. Some are saint-quiet. Some are warrior-loud. All of them are real, with meanings and origins kept as accurate as a transliterated list can be.

A small note on spelling: Arabic doesn’t share an alphabet with English, so most names have several valid romanizations (Aisha / Ayesha / ‘A’ishah). I’ve used the most common diaspora spelling for each, but any variant you prefer is just as correct.

Names From the Quran and Early Islamic Tradition

These are the names of mothers, daughters, queens, and companions whose stories shape the spiritual imagination of more than a billion people. They tend to feel weighty, in the best sense — a name that’s been carried for fourteen centuries doesn’t wear thin.

Maryam

Origin: Arabic/Persian (form of Mary/Miriam)
Pronunciation: MAR-yum · ˈmɑːrjəm
Meaning: Beloved, exalted
Popularity: #390 and rising (#415 → #390, 2024)

The mother of Jesus and the only woman named directly in the Quran; one of the most beloved names across the Muslim world.

Khadijah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kah-DEE-zhuh · kəˈdiːʒə
Meaning: Premature child, or trustworthy
Popularity: #1,299 and rising (#1,403 → #1,299, 2024)

The Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, a successful merchant — a name with serious gravity.

Aisha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-EE-shah · ɑːˈiːʃə
Meaning: living, thriving
Popularity: #346 and rising (#379 → #346, 2024)

Wife of the Prophet and a major early scholar; the name peaked again in the 2000s diaspora.

Fatima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAH-tih-muh · ˈfɑːtɪmə
Meaning: one who abstains or weans (from the root f-t-m)
Popularity: #316 and rising (#344 → #316, 2024)

The Prophet’s daughter; arguably the most universally loved girls’ name in the Muslim world.

Asiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-SEE-yuh · əˈsiːjə
Meaning: one who consoles or tends to the weak; healer
Popularity: #1,350 and rising (#1,452 → #1,350, 2024)

The Pharaoh’s wife who raised Moses; quietly heroic.

Hajar

Origin: Arabic (Hebrew origin)
Pronunciation: hah-JAR · hæːˈdʒɑːr
Meaning: migration, flight
Popularity: #5,052 and rising (#5,292 → #5,052, 2024)

Abraham’s wife and the mother of Ishmael; her run between Safa and Marwa is reenacted during Hajj.

Zaynab

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAY-nab · ˈzeɪnæb
Meaning: a fragrant flowering tree/shrub
Popularity: #1,548 and falling (#1,510 → #1,548, 2024)

Several daughters and granddaughters of the Prophet bore this name; a Shia favorite.

Sumayyah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-MY-uh · sʊˈmaɪə
Meaning: exalted, elevated one
Popularity: #4,178 and falling (#3,971 → #4,178, 2024)

The first martyr of Islam; a name with backbone.

Hafsa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HAHF-suh · ˈhɑːfsə
Meaning: young lioness, lion cub
Popularity: #1,516 and falling (#1,463 → #1,516, 2024)

One of the Prophet’s wives, known for guarding the original written Quran.

Ruqayyah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: roo-KY-yah · ruːˈkaɪjə
Meaning: one who rises above; excels (from a root meaning ‘to ascend’)
Popularity: #5,252 and rising (#5,913 → #5,252, 2024)

One of the Prophet’s daughters; soft but distinctive.

Umm Kulthum

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: oom kool-THOOM · ʊm kʊlˈθuːm
Meaning: Mother of Kulthum (a traditional teknonym)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Borne by both the Prophet’s daughter and the legendary Egyptian singer.

Safiyyah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-FEE-yah · səˈfiːjə
Meaning: Pure; a close, trusted friend
Popularity: #4,263 and rising (#6,874 → #4,263, 2024)

One of the Prophet’s wives; a name with a clean, ringing sound.

Maymunah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: may-MOO-nuh · maɪˈmuːnə
Meaning: blessed, fortunate
Popularity: #6,535 and rising (#9,390 → #6,535, 2024)

The last of the Prophet’s wives; rare and lovely.

Juwayriyyah

Origin: Arabic (diminutive of jariya, ‘young girl/maiden’)
Pronunciation: joo-way-REE-yah · dʒuːwaɪˈriːjæ
Meaning: little maiden, young girl
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Diminutive of jariyah; a Prophet’s-wife name with a tender ending.

Halimah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-LEE-mah · hæˈliːmə
Meaning: gentle and patient
Popularity: #7,020 and falling (#6,501 → #7,020, 2024)

The Prophet’s wet-nurse; a name often given as a prayer for a calm temperament.

Aminah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-MEE-nah · əˈmiːnə
Meaning: trustworthy, faithful
Popularity: #1,004 and rising (#1,088 → #1,004, 2024)

The Prophet’s mother; one of the warmest names on this list.

Salma

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAHL-mah · ˈsɑːlmə
Meaning: peace
Popularity: #870 and rising (#906 → #870, 2024)

Borne by several women in early Islam; popular across the Arab world today.

Lubaba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: loo-BAH-bah · luˈbaːba
Meaning: the innermost part or core, used figuratively for a pure heart
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A companion of the Prophet; an underused gem.

Asma

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AHS-mah · ˈɑːsmə
Meaning: exalted, supreme
Popularity: #1,799 and falling (#1,791 → #1,799, 2024)

Daughter of Abu Bakr, who smuggled food during the Hijrah; a name of quiet courage.

Hawwa

Origin: Arabic (cognate of Hebrew Chavah/Eve)
Pronunciation: HOW-wah · ˈhaʊwɑː
Meaning: life-giver, living one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The first woman; rarely used but breathtakingly direct.

Balqis

Origin: Arabic (South Arabian, name of the Queen of Sheba in Islamic tradition)
Pronunciation: bahl-KEES · bælˈqiːs
Meaning: the Queen of Sheba
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bilqees

Origin: Arabic (Quranic proper name, variant of Balqis)
Pronunciation: bil-KEES · bɪlˈkiːs
Meaning: Variant of Balqis
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Same queen, slightly softer spelling.

Saarah

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: SAH-rah · ˈsɑːrə
Meaning: Princess, noblewoman
Popularity: #13,227 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Abraham’s wife; a name shared across three faiths.

Rabia

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-BEE-uh · rɑːˈbiːə
Meaning: Spring; also “the fourth” (as in a fourth daughter)
Popularity: #9,387 and falling (#5,510 → #9,387, 2024)

Khawla

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KHOW-lah · ˈxawla
Meaning: a young female deer, used poetically as a name for gentle grace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A warrior-companion of the Prophet; sleek and brave.

Nusaybah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: noo-SY-bah · nuːˈsaɪbə
Meaning: of good lineage or kinship
Popularity: #3,034 and falling (#2,963 → #3,034, 2024)

Defended the Prophet at the Battle of Uhud; a fierce name.

Umamah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: oo-MAH-mah · ʊˈmɑːmə
Meaning: Little mother
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Prophet’s granddaughter; tender and ancient.

Rumaysa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: roo-MY-sah · ruːˈmaɪsə
Meaning: Bright-eyed, or having beautiful eyes
Popularity: #4,740 and rising (#6,354 → #4,740, 2024)

A companion of the Prophet promised paradise; melodic.

Names That Sound Like Light

A lot of Arabic girls’ names trace back to roots meaning shine, glow, dawn, moon, or star — partly because the desert sky teaches you to notice light, and partly because classical poets never tired of comparing women to celestial things. These names tend to feel luminous in the mouth, all long vowels and soft endings.

Nour

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NOOR · ˈnʊr
Meaning: light
Popularity: #1,856 and rising (#1,884 → #1,856, 2024)

Universal across the Arab world; works for any gender but most often given to girls.

Noura

Origin: Arabic (feminine form of Nur/Nour, ‘light’)
Pronunciation: NOO-ruh · ˈnuːrə
Meaning: light, radiance
Popularity: #2,089 and rising (#2,723 → #2,089, 2024)

A Gulf favorite, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Layla

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LAY-lah · ˈleɪlə
Meaning: night (from Arabic ‘layl’)
Popularity: #37 and falling (#30 → #37, 2024)

The heroine of the classical Layla and Majnun love poems; one of the most exported Arabic names.

Najma

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAHJ-mah · ˈnɑːdʒmə
Meaning: star
Popularity: #6,305 and falling (#4,955 → #6,305, 2024)

Direct and bright; common across North Africa.

Najwa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAHJ-wah · ˈnɑːdʒwə
Meaning: quiet, confidential conversation; a whispered secret
Popularity: #10,801 and falling (#7,156 → #10,801, 2024)

A name straight out of Arabic poetry; intimate.

Suha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SOO-hah · ˈsuːhɑː
Meaning: a faint star in Ursa Major (Alcor), used proverbially for something barely visible
Popularity: #14,956 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The star that tests your eyesight if you can spot it; a quietly clever name.

Thuraya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: thoo-RAY-yah
Meaning: The Pleiades star cluster
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most poetic star names in Arabic.

Najah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-JAH · nəˈdʒɑː
Meaning: success
Popularity: #7,129 and falling (#6,583 → #7,129, 2024)

A name often given after a difficult pregnancy.

Lamya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LAHM-yah · ˈlæm.jæ
Meaning: having darkened, dusky lips, an old Arabic term of praise for beauty
Popularity: #11,656 and falling (#5,066 → #11,656, 2024)

A name from old Arabic love poetry.

Diya

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: DEE-yah · ˈdiːjə
Meaning: small oil lamp, light
Popularity: #1,682 and rising (#1,698 → #1,682, 2024)

Works for boys and girls but slightly more common for girls in the Gulf.

Munira

Origin: Arabic (from root ن-و-ر, ‘to give light’)
Pronunciation: moo-NEER-uh · muˈniːrə
Meaning: illuminating, radiant
Popularity: #4,251 and falling (#4,162 → #4,251, 2024)

From the same root as Nour; a name that means “she who lights up the room.”

Lamia

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: luh-MEE-ah · ləˈmiːə
Meaning: radiant, shining
Popularity: #7,079 and falling (#5,482 → #7,079, 2024)

Slightly different root than Lamya; equally lovely.

Zahra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAH-ruh · ˈzɑːrə
Meaning: the radiant/blooming one (an epithet of Fatima, daughter of Muhammad)
Popularity: #543 and rising (#555 → #543, 2024)

Bahija

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-HEE-jah · bæˈhiː.dʒɐ
Meaning: cheerful, joyful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A vintage Egyptian favorite that’s circling back.

Tala

Pronunciation: TAH-lah · ˈtɑːlə
Meaning: Palm tree, or gold
Popularity: #1,336 and rising (#1,461 → #1,336, 2024)

Wildly popular in the Gulf right now.

Wafa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wah-FAH · wæˈfæː
Meaning: loyalty, faithfulness
Popularity: #7,903 and rising (#10,253 → #7,903, 2024)

Soft on the page, strong in meaning.

Sahar

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Pronunciation: sah-HAR · sɑːˈhɑːr
Meaning: dawn, daybreak
Popularity: #3,363 and rising (#3,463 → #3,363, 2024)

The quietest, prettiest moment of the day.

Fajr

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAH-jur · ˈfɑːdʒər
Meaning: dawn, daybreak
Popularity: #11,391 and falling (#7,368 → #11,391, 2024)

Direct and beautiful; the first prayer of the Muslim day.

Wedad

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: weh-DAHD · wɪˈdɑːd
Meaning: Love, affection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A classical name with serious warmth.

Anwar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AHN-wahr · ˈɑːnwɑːr
Meaning: brighter, more radiant (comparative of Arabic nur, ‘light’)
Popularity: #2,870 and rising (#3,179 → #2,870, 2024)

Used for both genders but lovely for girls.

Bashayer

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-SHAH-yeer · bæˈʃæː.jɪr
Meaning: good news, glad tidings
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The plural form; a name you say like a blessing.

Iman

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ee-MAHN · iːˈmɑːn
Meaning: faith, belief
Popularity: #2,084 and rising (#2,276 → #2,084, 2024)

Iman the Somali supermodel made it global.

Yusra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: YOOS-rah · ˈjuːsrə
Meaning: ease, prosperity (from the Arabic root y-s-r, ‘ease’)
Popularity: #954 and rising (#1,198 → #954, 2024)

From a Quranic phrase about ease following hardship.

Israa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ees-RAH · ɪsˈrɑː
Meaning: a night journey
Popularity: #4,688 and rising (#5,171 → #4,688, 2024)

Refers to the Prophet’s night journey; deeply spiritual.

Shams

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SHAHMS · ʃæms
Meaning: sun
Popularity: #3,800 and rising (#4,259 → #3,800, 2024)

One word, all warmth; rising again in modern naming.

Mariam

Origin: Hebrew (variant of Miriam)
Pronunciation: MEER-ee-um · ˈmɪriəm
Meaning: variant of Miriam/Maria; disputed root (possibly ‘bitter, ‘ ‘rebellious, ‘ or ‘beloved’)
Popularity: #491 and rising (#534 → #491, 2024)

The Levantine spelling.

Qamar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KAH-mar · ˈkɑː.mɑːr
Meaning: moon
Popularity: #3,360 and rising (#3,818 → #3,360, 2024)

Used for girls and boys; classic.

Badr

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: BAH-der · bɑdr
Meaning: full moon (specifically the moon on the 14th night of the lunar month)
Popularity: #5,916 and rising (#6,264 → #5,916, 2024)

Mostly masculine but increasingly given to girls.

Hilal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hih-LAHL · hɪˈlɑːl
Meaning: crescent moon
Popularity: #10,243 and falling (#9,215 → #10,243, 2024)

The shape that marks the start of the Islamic month.

Floral and Botanical Names

The Arab world has been growing roses, jasmine, citrus, and myrtle for centuries, and the language has the vocabulary to prove it. Many of these names show up in classical poetry as metaphors before they were ever given to daughters.

Yasmin

Origin: Arabic (ultimately Persian)
Pronunciation: YAZ-min · ˈjæzmɪn
Meaning: jasmine flower
Popularity: #917 and falling (#859 → #917, 2024)

Yasmeen

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: yaz-MEEN · jæzˈmiːn
Meaning: jasmine flower
Popularity: #1,933 and rising (#2,016 → #1,933, 2024)

The spelling that emphasizes the long vowel.

Warda

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: WAR-də · ˈwɑːrdə
Meaning: rose
Popularity: #17,490 and falling (#10,254 → #17,490, 2024)

Simple and unforgettable.

Zahrah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAH-rah · ˈzɑːrə
Meaning: flower, blossom
Popularity: #5,415 and rising (#7,228 → #5,415, 2024)

Banafsaj

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-NAHF-sahj · bæˈnæf.sædʒ
Meaning: the violet flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and gorgeous, mostly heard in classical contexts.

Narjis

Origin: Arabic (from Persian nargis, ‘narcissus’)
Pronunciation: NAR-jis
Meaning: narcissus (the flower)
Popularity: #16,904 and falling (#10,103 → #16,904, 2024)

A name borne by an early Shia matriarch.

Lina

Origin: short form (of names like Angelina, Carolina, Evelina); occasionally feminine of Linus
Pronunciation: LEE-nah · ˈliːnə
Meaning: Tender palm sapling
Popularity: #567 and rising (#584 → #567, 2024)

A small soft name with a quiet image.

Liyana

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lee-YAH-nə · liːˈjɑːnə
Meaning: softness and tenderness
Popularity: #1,484 and rising (#1,677 → #1,484, 2024)

A relative of Lina, slightly more flowing.

Rayhana

Origin: Arabic (from rayhan, ‘sweet basil’)
Pronunciation: ray-HAH-nuh · reɪˈhɑːnə
Meaning: sweet basil, fragrant herb
Popularity: #6,561 and rising (#8,382 → #6,561, 2024)

The herb that flavors so many Levantine kitchens.

Salwa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAHL-wah · ˈsɑːlwɑː
Meaning: comfort, consolation (also the Quranic word for quail)
Popularity: #4,438 and falling (#3,822 → #4,438, 2024)

One of the Quranic foods sent down with manna.

Habba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HAHB-bah · ˈhɑːbə
Meaning: a single seed or grain
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A diminutive sweet name.

Sundus

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SOON-doos · ˈsʊndʊs
Meaning: Fine silk
Popularity: #13,268 and falling (#5,719 → #13,268, 2024)

Mentioned in the Quran’s descriptions of paradise.

Zaytuna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zay-TOO-nah · zeɪˈtuːnæ
Meaning: olive
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The blessed tree of the Mediterranean; a North African favorite.

Sidra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SIHD-ruh · ˈsɪdrə
Meaning: From the Arabic word for the lote tree, referencing ‘Sidrat al-Muntaha,’ the tree marking the boundary of paradise in Islamic tradition
Popularity: #1,641 and rising (#1,721 → #1,641, 2024)

Quranic and grand.

Bustan

Origin: Persian (loanword used in Arabic)
Pronunciation: boo-STAHN · bʊsˈtɑːn
Meaning: a garden or orchard
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare but evocative.

Habibah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-BEE-bah · hæˈbiːbə
Meaning: beloved, darling
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often given alongside floral imagery.

Reem

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: REEM · ˈriːm
Meaning: gazelle
Popularity: #1,305 and rising (#1,643 → #1,305, 2024)

Sumar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-MAR · suˈmaːr
Meaning: Evening conversation, storytelling after dark
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The atmosphere of a name, not just a thing.

Rana

Origin: disputed / multiple unrelated origins (see note)
Pronunciation: RAH-nuh · ˈrɑːnə
Meaning: one who gazes admiringly (a captivating, beautiful sight)
Popularity: #3,729 and falling (#3,367 → #3,729, 2024)

A short name that holds the act of looking.

Bushra

Origin: Arabic (from root ب-ش-ر, ‘to bring good news’)
Pronunciation: BOOSH-ruh · ˈbʊʃɹə
Meaning: good news, glad tidings
Popularity: #4,042 and falling (#3,535 → #4,042, 2024)

The kind of name people smile when they say.

Ghada

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: GAH-dah · ˈɣaːda
Meaning: a graceful, attractive young woman
Popularity: #14,074 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Originally describing a young gazelle.

Hayat

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-YAHT · hæˈjæːt
Meaning: life
Popularity: #3,183 and falling (#2,947 → #3,183, 2024)

One of the most direct, generous names on the list.

Hanan

Origin: Hebrew or Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-NAHN · hæˈnæn
Meaning: gracious/grace (Hebrew, traditionally masculine) or compassion/affection (Arabic, traditionally feminine)
Popularity: #3,407 and falling (#3,394 → #3,407, 2024)

A name that names a feeling.

Wisal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wee-SAHL · wɪˈsɑːl
Meaning: union, reunion; connection between loved ones
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Sufi-poetry favorite about reuniting with the beloved.

Classical and Vintage Names Coming Back

Names that were everywhere a generation ago, fell out of fashion, and are now resurging — the Arabic equivalent of Eleanor or Hazel making a comeback. They sound at once familiar and slightly elevated, and pair well with surnames that lean traditional.

Najat

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-JAHT · nəˈdʒɑːt
Meaning: salvation, deliverance
Popularity: #14,695 and falling (#11,912 → #14,695, 2024)

Big in mid-century North Africa; ready for a comeback.

Souad

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-AHD · suːˈɑːd
Meaning: Happiness, good fortune
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Samira

Origin: Arabic (Persian usage)
Pronunciation: suh-MEER-ah · səˈmɪrə
Meaning: a companion for evening conversation (feminine of Samir)
Popularity: #773 and rising (#803 → #773, 2024)

The one you stay up late talking to.

Salima

Origin: Arabic (feminine form of Salim); used in Swahili-speaking East Africa
Pronunciation: sah-LEE-mah · sɑːˈliːmə
Meaning: safe, unharmed
Popularity: #6,335 and rising (#6,622 → #6,335, 2024)

A grandmother name with real elegance.

Karima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kah-REE-mah · kɑːˈriːmə
Meaning: generous, noble (feminine form of Karim)
Popularity: #9,857 and falling (#8,260 → #9,857, 2024)

One of the kindest meanings in the language.

Latifa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lah-TEE-fah · læˈtiː.fə
Meaning: gentle, kind
Popularity: #8,700 and falling (#7,854 → #8,700, 2024)

Queen Latifah brought it stateside; one of God’s 99 names in feminine.

Rashida

Origin: Arabic (feminine of Rashid, from root ر-ش-د)
Pronunciation: rah-SHEE-duh · rəˈʃiːdə
Meaning: rightly guided, righteous
Popularity: #17,084 and falling (#11,952 → #17,084, 2024)

Solid and dignified.

Jamila

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: jah-MEE-lah · dʒəˈmiːlə
Meaning: beautiful
Popularity: #1,560 and falling (#1,512 → #1,560, 2024)

The name everyone learned in Arabic class for a reason.

Hadiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-DEE-yuh · hɑːˈdiːjə
Meaning: gift
Popularity: #3,655 and rising (#4,494 → #3,655, 2024)

Doubled meaning depending on the vowel pattern.

Zubaida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zoo-BAY-dah
Meaning: the best or choicest part (from a word for cream)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The brilliant Abbasid queen Zubaida bint Ja’far built the road to Mecca.

Nawal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-WAHL · næˈwɑːl
Meaning: a gift, that which is granted or bestowed
Popularity: #3,616 and rising (#4,626 → #3,616, 2024)

The Egyptian writer Nawal El Saadawi made it iconic.

Saadia

Origin: Arabic/Hebrew
Pronunciation: sah-DEE-uh · sɑːˈdiːə
Meaning: God has supported (or, per some scholars, a Hebraized form of Arabic Sa’id ‘happy’)
Popularity: #10,107 and rising (#11,005 → #10,107, 2024)

A North African staple.

Aida

Origin: Italian (popularized by Verdi’s 1871 opera Aida)
Pronunciation: eye-EE-duh · aɪˈiːdə
Meaning: Returning, visitor
Popularity: #1,242 and falling (#1,232 → #1,242, 2024)

Verdi’s opera made it operatic; the Arabic root is older.

Adila

Origin: Arabic (feminine form of Adil, from root ع-د-ل)
Pronunciation: AH-dee-lah · ˈɑːdiːlə
Meaning: just, fair
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The feminine of Adil.

Najla

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAHJ-lah · ˈnɑːdʒlə
Meaning: wide-eyed, having large, beautiful eyes
Popularity: #14,696 and falling (#14,624 → #14,696, 2024)

One of the most musical of the vintage set.

Mona

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic; also Arabic (as Muna)
Pronunciation: MOH-nah · ˈmoʊnə
Meaning: noble (Irish/Gaelic); or ‘wish/desire’ when used as a form of Arabic Muna
Popularity: #2,224 and falling (#2,116 → #2,224, 2024)

Short, classic, completely diaspora-friendly.

Hoda

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HOH-dah · ˈhoʊdə
Meaning: guidance, being rightly guided
Popularity: #12,613 and falling (#9,223 → #12,613, 2024)

Hoda Kotb is the household example; a steady, kind name.

Sabah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-BAH · səˈbɑː
Meaning: morning, dawn
Popularity: #14,902 and falling (#11,988 → #14,902, 2024)

The Lebanese singer Sabah was a national treasure; the name shines.

Wisam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wee-SAHM · wɪˈsɑːm
Meaning: a medal or badge of honor
Popularity: #6,788 and rising (#7,694 → #6,788, 2024)

Used for both, but increasingly for girls.

Hala

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HAH-lah · ˈhæːlæ
Meaning: the halo or ring of light around the moon
Popularity: #3,406 and rising (#3,930 → #3,406, 2024)

Ola

Origin: Yoruba; also Arabic and Scandinavian (multiple independent origins)
Pronunciation: OH-lah · ˈoʊlɑː
Meaning: wealth, honor (Yoruba ọlá); also ‘to rise, be exalted’ (Arabic) and a Scandinavian short form of Olaf (‘ancestor’s relic’)
Popularity: #7,149 and falling (#6,854 → #7,149, 2024)

Short and stunning.

Dina

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: DEE-nuh · ˈdiːnə
Meaning: judged, vindicated
Popularity: #1,334 and falling (#1,155 → #1,334, 2024)

Crosses easily between Arabic and Hebrew origins.

Modern Gulf and Levantine Names

The names you’d hear at any playground in Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Beirut, or Amman right now — fresh, sometimes invented from poetic roots, sometimes pulled out of classical Arabic for a clean restart. These tend to be short, vowel-heavy, and quick to write.

Lujain

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: loo-JAYN · luːˈdʒeɪn
Meaning: silver
Popularity: #3,850 and rising (#4,516 → #3,850, 2024)

A Gulf-region star of the last decade.

Lateen

Origin: Arabic (uncertain)
Pronunciation: luh-TEEN · ləˈtiːn
Meaning: Soft, gentle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A modern coinage that took.

Maha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MAH-hah · ˈmɑːhɑː
Meaning: wild oryx, an animal whose large eyes are invoked to praise a woman’s beauty
Popularity: #3,195 and rising (#3,405 → #3,195, 2024)

One word, one image, done.

Mayar

Origin: Arabic (modern given name)
Pronunciation: mah-YAR · məˈjɑːr
Meaning: Moonlight, glow of the moon
Popularity: #2,489 and rising (#2,635 → #2,489, 2024)

Increasingly popular across the Gulf.

Joud

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: JOOD · dʒuːd
Meaning: generosity
Popularity: #4,407 and rising (#5,836 → #4,407, 2024)

A unisex favorite that leans girl now.

Jana

Origin: Arabic (distinct from the unrelated Central European name of the same spelling)
Pronunciation: JAH-nuh · ˈdʒɑːnə
Meaning: a harvest, ripe fruit picked
Popularity: #1,335 and falling (#1,201 → #1,335, 2024)

The fruit of the heavenly gardens; surging in the Gulf.

Jude

Origin: Hebrew (via Greek Ioudas and Latin Judas)
Pronunciation: JOOD · ˈdʒuːd
Meaning: praised (ultimately from Hebrew, transmitted through Greek/Latin)
Popularity: #2,156 and falling (#1,729 → #2,156, 2024)

Talia

Origin: Hebrew (also used as a variant of Thalia or short form of Natalia)
Pronunciation: TAH-lee-ah · ˈtɑːliə
Meaning: dew from/of God
Popularity: #270 and falling (#264 → #270, 2024)

Crosses languages but the Arabic meaning is its own.

Lara

Origin: Russian (pet form of Larissa)
Pronunciation: LAHR-ah · ˈlɑːrə
Meaning: pet form of Larissa, ultimately from a Greek place name meaning ‘citadel/fortress’
Popularity: #740 and falling (#731 → #740, 2024)

Picked up in the Levant in the 2000s.

Lana

Origin: Russian/Gaelic (short form of Svetlana or Alana)
Pronunciation: LAH-nah · ˈlɑːnə
Meaning: Soft, tender
Popularity: #374 and rising (#416 → #374, 2024)

Cousin to Lina, with its own following.

Layan

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lay-AHN · leɪˈɑːn
Meaning: connotes a full, abundant life, and separately, softness or gentleness
Popularity: #1,025 and rising (#1,071 → #1,025, 2024)

A new-classic Gulf name.

Lian

Origin: Dutch, short form of Julian
Pronunciation: lee-AHN · liˈɑːn
Meaning: youthful (as Dutch short form of Julian)
Popularity: #4,417 and rising (#5,195 → #4,417, 2024)

Short and modern.

Lameen

Origin: Arabic (North African, from al-Amin)
Pronunciation: lah-MEEN · ləˈmiːn
Meaning: the trustworthy one, a colloquial North African form of al-Amin
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Feminine form on the rise.

Lubna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LOOB-nah · ˈlʊbnə
Meaning: the storax tree (a fragrant flowering tree)
Popularity: #16,732 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The heroine of another Arabic love poem.

Maysoun

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: may-SOON · meɪˈsuːn
Meaning: one with a graceful, beautiful gait
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name borne by an early Umayyad queen.

Reema

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: REE-muh · ˈriːmə
Meaning: A young white gazelle
Popularity: #3,311 and rising (#3,962 → #3,311, 2024)

Same root as Reem with a softer ending.

Retal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: reh-TAHL · rɛˈtɑːl
Meaning: Melodic Qur’anic recitation
Popularity: #4,008 and rising (#5,096 → #4,008, 2024)

A spiritual modern name.

Renad

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: reh-NAHD · rɛˈnɑːd
Meaning: The laurel (bay) tree, prized for its fragrance
Popularity: #6,563 and rising (#8,386 → #6,563, 2024)

One of the more recent Gulf inventions, very popular.

Rital

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rih-TAHL · rɪˈtɑːl
Meaning: Melodic recitation
Popularity: #8,826 and rising (#8,865 → #8,826, 2024)

Variant of Retal.

Sila

Origin: multiple unrelated origins depending on culture (Arabic/Turkish, Inuit, Tongan)
Pronunciation: SEE-luh · ˈsiːlə
Meaning: Arabic/Turkish ‘sıla’ (from root ṣila, ‘connection, bond’) carries a specific sense of longing for or returning to one’s homeland; this is a separate word from the unrelated Inuit concept ‘sila’ (sky/weather/world-spirit) and Tongan usage — these are homographs, not the same name
Popularity: #5,567 and falling (#4,722 → #5,567, 2024)

Bridges Arab and Turkish use.

Sham

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SHAHM · ʃɑːm
Meaning: Damascus, or the Levant region
Popularity: #7,512 and rising (#7,990 → #7,512, 2024)

Naming a daughter after the place itself.

Shahd

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SHAHD · ʃɑːhd
Meaning: honey (honeycomb)
Popularity: #5,914 and falling (#5,104 → #5,914, 2024)

A Gulf favorite for a decade now.

Talin

Origin: Armenian (place name Talin, a town in Aragatsotn)
Pronunciation: tah-LEEN · tɑːˈliːn
Meaning: Music of the harp
Popularity: #10,159 and rising (#11,065 → #10,159, 2024)

A delicate modern name.

Tamara

Origin: Hebrew (via Slavic/Georgian Orthodox tradition)
Pronunciation: tuh-MAR-uh · təˈmɑːrə
Meaning: date palm (from the Hebrew name Tamar)
Popularity: #1,757 and rising (#1,848 → #1,757, 2024)

Crosses Slavic and Arabic linguistic lines.

Tia

Origin: modern English coinage (20th century)
Pronunciation: TEE-uh · ˈtiː.ə
Meaning: Princess
Popularity: #1,735 and falling (#1,565 → #1,735, 2024)

Short, easy in diaspora settings.

Wateen

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wah-TEEN · wæˈtiːn
Meaning: The aorta, the heart’s main artery
Popularity: #2,477 and rising (#2,780 → #2,477, 2024)

Surprisingly tender as a name.

North African and Andalusian Names

Names with roots in the Maghreb — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and the lost Arabic of medieval Spain. They carry a slightly different musicality than Gulf names, with a Berber, French, and Iberian flavor mixed in.

A Moroccan and Tunisian staple.

Najat al-Saghira, the Egyptian-Moroccan singer.

Houda

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HOO-duh · ˈhuːdə
Meaning: guidance
Popularity: #16,149 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Maghrebi spelling of Hoda.

Imane

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ee-MAHN · iːˈmɑːn
Meaning: faith, belief
Popularity: #10,557 and rising (#14,078 → #10,557, 2024)

The French spelling of Iman, popular in France and the Maghreb.

Sofiane

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: so-fee-AHN · sɒfiˈɑːn
Meaning: Wisdom-related
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used both ways; the Maghrebi feminine is Sofia.

Yasmina

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: yaz-MEE-nah · jæzˈmiːnə
Meaning: jasmine flower
Popularity: #1,745 and rising (#2,102 → #1,745, 2024)

Maghrebi spelling with the soft -a.

Manel

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: muh-NEL · mæˈnɛl
Meaning: attainment, reaching or achieving what one hopes for
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in Algeria and Tunisia.

Inès

Origin: French (from Spanish Inés)
Pronunciation: ee-NESS · iˈnɛs
Meaning: pure, holy — via Spanish Inés, ultimately from the Greek word for ‘pure’ through Agnes
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hugely popular in the French-Maghrebi diaspora.

Lamis

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lah-MEES · læˈmiːs
Meaning: soft to the touch
Popularity: #11,655 and rising (#16,519 → #11,655, 2024)

A North African and Levantine favorite.

Kenza

Origin: Arabic (North African)
Pronunciation: KEN-zah · ˈkɛnzə
Meaning: a treasure
Popularity: #3,025 and rising (#3,496 → #3,025, 2024)

Moroccan and Algerian streets are full of Kenzas right now.

Sara

Origin: Hebrew (variant spelling of Sarah)
Pronunciation: SAIR-ah · ˈsɛrə
Meaning: princess; noblewoman
Popularity: #188, holding steady (2024)

The Maghrebi shortform.

Hayfa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HY-fah · ˈhaɪfɑː
Meaning: slender, graceful in build
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common across the Maghreb.

Asmae

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ahs-MAH · æsˈmɑː
Meaning: more elevated, most sublime
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Moroccan French spelling of Asma.

Maria

Origin: Hebrew (via Latin)
Pronunciation: muh-REE-uh · məˈriːə
Meaning: of disputed root; possibly ‘bitter’ or ‘rebellious’ (Hebrew), or ‘beloved’ (Egyptian)
Popularity: #74 and rising (#82 → #74, 2024)

The Moroccan Arabic borrowing back from Latin.

Chaima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: shy-MAH · ʃaɪˈmɑː
Meaning: of fine character, admirable qualities
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Prophet’s foster sister; very common in the Maghreb.

Hiba

Origin: Arabic (from root و-ه-ب, ‘to give’)
Pronunciation: HIH-bah · ˈhɪbə
Meaning: gift
Popularity: #2,308 and falling (#2,068 → #2,308, 2024)

Short and bright.

Ikram

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ik-RAHM · ɪkˈrɑːm
Meaning: honoring someone with generosity and respect
Popularity: #9,139 and rising (#16,088 → #9,139, 2024)

Maghreb and Egypt alike.

Ibtissam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ib-tee-SAHM · ɪbtɪˈsɑːm
Meaning: a smile
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The name names the act.

Insaf

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: in-SAHF · ɪnˈsˤɑːf
Meaning: justice, fairness
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A serious, beautiful choice.

Wiam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wee-AHM · wiːˈɑːm
Meaning: Harmony, accord
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A peaceful name.

Ghita

Origin: Arabic (North African)
Pronunciation: GEE-tah · ˈɣiːta
Meaning: rain
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Moroccan form of Ghaitha.

Nada

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NAH-dah · ˈnɑːdə
Meaning: dew, extended poetically to mean generosity
Popularity: #4,428 and falling (#4,332 → #4,428, 2024)

One word, two meanings, both lovely.

Loubna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LOOB-nah · ˈluːbnə
Meaning: the storax tree, a fragrant flowering tree celebrated in classical Arabic poetry
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Maghrebi spelling of Lubna.

Names With Strong, Brave, or Powerful Meanings

For parents who want a name that carries some steel under the softness. Arabic has a long tradition of women’s names rooted in courage, leadership, and protection — many of them borne by warriors, queens, and scholars whose stories deserve more shelf space.

Asma bint Abi Bakr smuggled supplies on horseback during the Hijrah.

She defended the Prophet at Uhud with a sword.

Zenobia

Origin: Greek (feminine of Zenobios); possibly a Hellenized rendering of a Palmyrene Aramaic name
Pronunciation: zə-NOH-bee-ə · zəˈnoʊbiə
Meaning: life of Zeus (feminine form of Zenobios); origin possibly Aramaic
Popularity: #4,541 and falling (#3,757 → #4,541, 2024)

The warrior queen of Palmyra.

Shajar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SHAH-jar · ˈʃædʒær
Meaning: Tree(s)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hurriyah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hoor-REE-yuh · hurˈriːjə
Meaning: freedom, liberty
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name with revolutionary spirit.

Aziza

Origin: Arabic/Hebrew
Pronunciation: ah-ZEE-zah · ɑːˈziːzə
Meaning: beloved, precious (feminine form of Aziz)
Popularity: #2,924 and falling (#2,445 → #2,924, 2024)

Same root as one of God’s 99 names.

Qudsiyya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kood-SEE-yuh · qʊdˈsɪjjə
Meaning: holy, sacred
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name with quiet authority.

Salaam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-LAHM · saˈlaːm
Meaning: Peace
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The greeting itself.

Jihan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: jee-HAHN · dʒiˈhɑːn
Meaning: world
Popularity: #11,531 and rising (#14,186 → #11,531, 2024)

The Egyptian first lady Jihan Sadat carried it.

Maysa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MY-suh · ˈmaɪsə
Meaning: one who walks with a proud, graceful gait
Popularity: #4,248 and rising (#4,827 → #4,248, 2024)

The bearing of a queen.

Sultana

Origin: Arabic (via Ottoman Turkish title use)
Pronunciation: suhl-TAH-nuh · sʌlˈtɑːnə
Meaning: female sultan; a sultan’s wife or female ruler
Popularity: #7,884 and rising (#8,914 → #7,884, 2024)

Direct and crowned.

Amirah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-MEER-ah · ɑːˈmɪrə
Meaning: princess (spelling variant of Amira)
Popularity: #464 and falling (#458 → #464, 2024)

One of the most direct power-names.

Malika

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mah-LEE-kah · mæˈliːkə
Meaning: queen (feminine form of Malik, ‘king’)
Popularity: #2,834 and falling (#2,166 → #2,834, 2024)

The feminine of Malik.

Wijdan

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: weej-DAHN · wɪdʒˈdɑːn
Meaning: Deep feeling, emotion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The intensity of inner experience.

Faridah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: fah-REE-duh · fəˈriːdə
Meaning: unique, one of a kind
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Egyptian queen Farida; one of a kind.

Sumayya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-MY-uh · sʊˈmaɪə
Meaning: Elevated, highly regarded
Popularity: #4,096 and rising (#4,441 → #4,096, 2024)

The first martyr of Islam; courage at the root.

Hibatullah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hih-bat-ul-LAH
Meaning: gift of God (Arabic hibah ‘gift’ + Allah ‘God’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A serious, devotional choice.

Mansoura

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mahn-SOO-rah · mænˈsuːrə
Meaning: victorious, one who is granted victory
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The feminine of Mansour.

Ghaliya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: GAH-lee-ah · ˈɡɑːliə
Meaning: precious, dearly loved
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Worth her weight.

Mahbouba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mah-BOO-bah · mæhˈbuːbə
Meaning: beloved, one who is loved
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The passive of the verb to love.

Sajida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-jee-dah · ˈsaːdʒɪda
Meaning: One who prostrates in prayer
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Spiritual strength.

Adheela

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-DEE-lah · əˈdiːlə
Meaning: just, fair-minded
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The feminine of Adel.

Munisa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: moo-NEE-suh · muːˈniːsə
Meaning: a warm, friendly companion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The one who keeps loneliness away.

Names Borrowed Beautifully From Persian, Turkish, and Other Neighbors

Centuries of trade, conquest, and shared courts mean Arabic has absorbed and Arabized names from Persian, Turkish, and beyond. These names sit comfortably in Arabic but carry a slightly different flavor.

The most-traveled Arabic-adjacent name.

Roxana / Roksana

Origin: Old Persian
Pronunciation: rahk-SAN-ah · rɑːkˈsænə
Meaning: Bright, shining
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Alexander the Great’s wife.

Shirin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shee-REEN · ʃiːˈriːn
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: #8,854 and rising (#10,198 → #8,854, 2024)

The heroine of Khusraw and Shirin.

Parveen

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: par-VEEN · pɑːrˈviːn
Meaning: The Pleiades star cluster
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

‘Star’ is an oversimplification — the Persian word specifically denotes the Pleiades star cluster, not stars generally.

Gulnar

Origin: Persian (used as an Arabic name)
Pronunciation: gool-NAHR · ɡʊlˈnɑːr
Meaning: pomegranate blossom
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in Iraqi Arabic.

Mahnaz

Origin: Persian, used in Arabic
Pronunciation: mah-NAHZ · mɑːhˈnɑːz
Meaning: Pride of the moon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used among Arabic-speaking Persians.

Nargis

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nar-GEES · nɑːrˈɡiːs
Meaning: narcissus (the flower)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Borne by an early Shia matriarch.

Banu

Origin: Persian (used in Turkish, Urdu, and Hindi)
Pronunciation: bah-NOO · bɑːˈnuː
Meaning: lady, mistress (used honorifically as ‘princess’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A regal little name.

Setareh

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: seh-tah-REH · sɛtɑːˈrɛ
Meaning: star
Popularity: #13,204 and falling (#10,189 → #13,204, 2024)

Pari

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: pah-REE · pɑːˈriː
Meaning: fairy, angel
Popularity: #6,835 and rising (#9,451 → #6,835, 2024)

A diminutive sweetness.

Dilara

Origin: Turkish (Persian compound)
Pronunciation: dee-LAH-rah · diːˈlɑːrə
Meaning: beloved/adornment of the heart
Popularity: #4,207 and rising (#4,903 → #4,207, 2024)

Popular in Levantine Arabic.

Sevda

Origin: Turkish (from Arabic sawdā’, literally ‘black’)
Pronunciation: SEV-dah · sɛvˈdɑː
Meaning: love, passion, ardent longing
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common in the Iraqi diaspora.

Leila / Layla

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LAY-lah · ˈleɪlə
Meaning: night
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nilufar

Origin: Persian (from Sanskrit)
Pronunciation: nee-loo-FAR · niːluːˈfɑːr
Meaning: blue lotus, water lily
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The water flower.

Mahsa

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: MAH-sah · ˈmɑːsɑː
Meaning: resembling the moon
Popularity: #3,466 and rising (#4,159 → #3,466, 2024)

Roya

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ROH-yah · ˈroʊjə
Meaning: dream, vision
Popularity: #2,808 and falling (#2,458 → #2,808, 2024)

Yara

Origin: two unrelated origins: Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) and Arabic
Pronunciation: YAR-ah · ˈjɑːrə
Meaning: In Tupi, ‘lady of the water’ — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore.
Popularity: #578 and rising (#613 → #578, 2024)

Now thoroughly Arab.

Lamiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lah-MEE-yah · læˈmiː.jæ
Meaning: having darkened, dusky lips, an old Arabic term of praise for beauty
Popularity: #9,251 and falling (#8,745 → #9,251, 2024)

Cousin to Lamya.

Eman

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ee-MAHN
Meaning: faith, religious belief
Popularity: #2,799 and falling (#2,735 → #2,799, 2024)

A common Iraqi spelling.

Sevim

Origin: Turkish (from sevmek, ‘to love’)
Pronunciation: seh-VEEM · sɛˈviːm
Meaning: loveliness, charm; lovable
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bilingual families pick this one often.

Short, Two-Syllable Names That Travel Well

Names that work seamlessly across English, French, and Arabic-speaking environments — short enough not to get mangled at the deli counter, deep enough to mean something. Helpful if you’re raising a daughter who’ll move between worlds.

Sama

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-muh · ˈsɑːmə
Meaning: sky (Arabic سما, from a root associated with height/heaven)
Popularity: #1,384 and rising (#1,770 → #1,384, 2024)

Lujy

Origin: Arabic (diminutive form)
Pronunciation: LOO-jee · ˈluːdʒi
Meaning: silver, used as an affectionate short form of Lujain
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hibah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HEE-bah · ˈhiːbə
Meaning: a gift
Popularity: #16,141 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Aya

Origin: Japanese (also used as an Arabic and Hebrew name)
Pronunciation: AH-yah · ˈɑːjə
Meaning: colorful pattern or design (Japanese); also used for the Arabic word for a Quranic verse
Popularity: #630 and rising (#695 → #630, 2024)

Every chapter is made of ayat.

Mira

Origin: Multi-origin: Slavic / Latin / Sanskrit / Hindi
Pronunciation: MEER-ah · ˈmɪrə
Meaning: peace (Slavic); wonderful/admired (Latin); sea or boundary (Sanskrit); or from Meera/Mirabai, a 16th-century Hindi poet-saint
Popularity: #380 and rising (#412 → #380, 2024)

Crosses easily.

Rima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: REE-mə · ˈriːmə
Meaning: white gazelle, antelope
Popularity: #5,248 and rising (#6,348 → #5,248, 2024)

Lighter spelling of Reem.

Dana

Origin: Uncertain (English/Western, possibly from the surname Dawnay or a form of Daniel)
Pronunciation: DAH-nah · ˈdɑːnə
Meaning: Pearl of great value
Popularity: #1,077 and falling (#976 → #1,077, 2024)

Lyla

Origin: Arabic (spelling variant of Leila)
Pronunciation: LY-lah · ˈlaɪlə
Meaning: night (inherited from Leila/Layla)
Popularity: #83 and rising (#99 → #83, 2024)

Alternate spelling of Layla.

Maya

Origin: Multiple unrelated origins (Sanskrit, also Hebrew/Latin via Maria, or Greek Maia)
Pronunciation: MY-ah · ˈmaɪə
Meaning: illusion (in the Sanskrit-origin usage); in Western usage often a variant of Maria
Popularity: #51 and falling (#50 → #51, 2024)

Different meaning than the Greek Maya; works both ways.

Inas

Origin: Arabic (from root أ-ن-س, related to companionship)
Meaning: friendliness, sociability
Popularity: #16,099 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings