250+ Muslim Baby Girl Names — Beautiful & Timeless

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In Islamic tradition, a name isn’t just a label — it’s considered the first gift you give your daughter, chosen with real intention. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that parents owe their children a good name, and that idea has shaped naming customs across Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Swahili, Malay, and Turkish-speaking Muslim communities for fourteen centuries. Below, you’ll find that same range reflected in the names themselves — from classical Qur’anic roots to Persian poetry to the Swahili-Arabic hybrids beloved across East Africa.

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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 That Mean Light & Radiance

Names That Mean Grace & Beauty

Names That Mean Joy & Happiness

Names Rooted in Nature & Garden

Names That Mean Strength & Honor

Names That Mean Beloved & the Heart

Names That Mean Pure & Blessed

Classic Names From Islamic History & Scripture

What mainstream baby-name sites miss when they list “Muslim names” is that this is not a single tradition — it is a vast, layered, multilingual inheritance. A name from classical Arabic carries different music than a Persian-rooted name, which sounds nothing like a Swahili-Arabic hybrid beloved in East Africa. This list tries to honor that range. You will find names from the Qur’an, names carried by the Prophet’s family and companions, names from Persian poetry, and names that traveled along trade routes and settled into new languages while holding onto their original light.

Every name here is organized by meaning cluster rather than alphabet, because the meaning is often the whole point. If you are drawn to names that evoke radiance, you should be able to find twenty of them together and feel the difference between Noor (spare, blazing) and Mishkat (architectural, poetic). If you want something rooted in Islamic history, the final section gives you names tied to real women — women of faith, courage, and scholarship — whose stories are worth knowing before you pass the name along.

Romanization note: Arabic vowels can be written multiple ways in English. Where common, both spellings are included. Pronunciation guidance follows standard Arabic phonology: the letter ‘ain (ع) creates a slight catch in the throat; the ‘h’ in names like Khadijah is a softer, more breathy sound than English ‘h’. Most names here, if spoken carefully and naturally, will carry their own beauty.

Names That Mean Light & Radiance

Light is one of the most sacred themes in Islamic thought — the Qur’an’s “Verse of Light” describes God as the light of the heavens and the earth. It is no accident that names meaning radiance, glow, and luminosity run through Muslim naming traditions across every culture and century. These names carry that theology gently, without being heavy about it.

Noor / Nur

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NOOR · ˈnʊr
Meaning: Light
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The single most iconic Islamic name for radiance; short, blazing, and immediately recognizable across every Muslim culture.

Diya

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

Crisp and bright; especially popular in South Asia and among diaspora communities.

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)

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)

Grammatically comparative — she who shines brighter; the feminine Anwara is common in South Asia.

Ziya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZEE-yuh · ˈziːjə
Meaning: light, radiance
Popularity: #1,688 and falling (#1,575 → #1,688, 2024)

A classic with an airy feel; used from Turkey to Central Asia.

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)

Elegant and classical; a grandmother name making a quiet comeback.

Nawra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NOW-rah · ˈnaʊrə
Meaning: blossom or flower
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Gentle and uncommon outside the Arab world; botanical and luminous at once.

Lamia

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

Poetic and sophisticated; widely used in Egypt and the Levant.

Zohra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZOH-ruh · ˈzoʊrə
Meaning: the planet Venus; from an Arabic root meaning ‘to shine, blossom’
Popularity: #5,939 and rising (#6,912 → #5,939, 2024)

Nayyira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-YEER-ah · nɑːˈjiːrə
Meaning: luminous, radiant one (feminine form of an Arabic root meaning ‘to shine/give light’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and distinctive; carries a quiet literary quality that rewards a bookish family.

Fajr

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

The word itself just means ‘dawn’ — the prayer (Salat al-Fajr) is named for occurring at dawn, not the other way around.

Ishraq

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ish-RAHK · ɪʃˈrɑːk
Meaning: Radiance, illumination, or sunrise
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philosophical and rare; associated with the Illuminationist school of Islamic thought.

Siraj

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sih-RAHJ · sɪˈrɑːdʒ
Meaning: lamp or lantern
Popularity: #3,576 and rising (#3,781 → #3,576, 2024)

Evocative of guiding light; a name that feels both ancient and fresh.

Mishkat

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mish-KAHT · mɪʃˈkaːt
Meaning: niche for a lamp
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

From the Qur’anic metaphor of divine light; poetic and architecturally beautiful.

Subha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SOOB-hah · ˈsʊbhə
Meaning: morning light
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Simple and evocative; used across the Gulf region.

Kawkab

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KOW-kahb · ˈkawkab
Meaning: star (also used for ‘planet’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bright and bold; common in Palestine and Jordan.

Anwaar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: an-WAHR · ænˈwɑːr
Meaning: lights or radiance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Durra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: DOOR-rah · ˈdur.rah
Meaning: pearl
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Classical and luminous; the word poets used for the rarest kind of brightness.

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)

The ta marbuta ending gives it a softer, rounder feel than Nour; popular in North Africa.

Raushan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: row-SHAHN · rowˈʃæn
Meaning: Bright or luminous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and glowing; used in Afghanistan and among Dari-speaking communities.

Bashira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-SHEE-rah · bæˈʃiː.rɐ
Meaning: bringer of good news
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nur al-Ain

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: noor-al-AYN · nʊər æl ˈeɪn
Meaning: Light of the eye
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Baraka

Origin: Arabic (also used in Swahili)
Pronunciation: buh-RAH-kah · bəˈrɑːkə
Meaning: blessing
Popularity: #5,451 and falling (#4,761 → #5,451, 2024)

Strong and international; used from Nairobi to Cairo.

Najma

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

Sana

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-nuh · ˈsɑːnə
Meaning: radiance, brilliance
Popularity: #1,449 and falling (#1,322 → #1,449, 2024)

Crisp and clean; used from Morocco to Malaysia.

Zara

Origin: English/Hebrew (variant of Sarah) or Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAR-ah · ˈzɑːrə
Meaning: uncertain — either from Sarah (‘princess’) or Arabic zahra (‘flower’)
Popularity: #234 and rising (#236 → #234, 2024)

Short and vibrant; a name that has spread globally while keeping its roots.

Thurayya

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

Astronomical and dreamy; a name for families who look up.

Names That Mean Grace & Beauty

Arabic has a remarkably rich vocabulary for beauty — not just surface appearance, but beauty tied to character, bearing, and the way a person moves through the world. These names draw from that deep well.

Jamila

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

The gold-standard classical beauty name; dignified without being stiff.

Husna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HOOS-nuh · ˈhʊsnə
Meaning: the most beautiful, the best (superlative form of ‘good’)
Popularity: #3,054 and falling (#2,793 → #3,054, 2024)

Short and strong; rooted in Qur’anic language about the divine names.

Rahma

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAH-muh · ˈrɑːhmə
Meaning: compassionate mercy
Popularity: #2,258 and falling (#2,254 → #2,258, 2024)

One of the attributes of God; a name that carries profound spiritual weight alongside its softness.

Latifa

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

Common across the Arab world; Queen Latifah introduced it to Western ears.

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)

Regal and self-assured; popular in North Africa and among Black Muslim families in the US.

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

Principled and elegant; the feminine of Adil.

Hasina

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-SEE-nah · hæˈsiːnə
Meaning: Good and beautiful
Popularity: #12,601 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweet and accessible; widely loved in East Africa.

Zainab

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAY-nab · ˈzeɪnəb
Meaning: a fragrant, thorny flowering shrub (traditional Arabic plant name)
Popularity: #853 and rising (#877 → #853, 2024)

The name of the Prophet’s daughter and granddaughter; deeply revered throughout the Islamic world.

Sumaira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-MY-rah · suˈmaɪrə
Meaning: little brunette
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sahar

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

Dreamy and poetic; used across the entire Muslim world.

Hadiya

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

Generous in meaning; the doubled vowel gives it a musical, forward-rolling quality.

Faiza

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FY-zah · ˈfaɪzə
Meaning: victorious; successful
Popularity: #3,763 and rising (#4,391 → #3,763, 2024)

Confident and strong; widely used in West Africa and South Asia.

Yasmin

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

Universally recognized; the soft floral note makes it approachable without being generic.

Jannah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: JAN-uh · ˈdʒænə
Meaning: Garden or paradise
Popularity: #1,509 and rising (#1,714 → #1,509, 2024)

A name straight from Qur’anic vocabulary; peaceful and profoundly aspirational.

Rania

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAH-nee-ah · ˈrɑːniə
Meaning: one who gazes or admires with tenderness
Popularity: #2,001 and rising (#2,348 → #2,001, 2024)

Rania doesn’t mean ‘queen’ — the Arabic root is about gazing or admiring, not royalty; ‘queen’ is a popular but inaccurate gloss repeated on baby-name sites.

Basma

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: BAHS-mah · ˈbɑːsmə
Meaning: smile
Popularity: #6,407 and falling (#5,409 → #6,407, 2024)

Instantly warm; a name you cannot hear without imagining a gentle expression.

Rima

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

Poetic and wild; a beloved name in the Levant and among Arabic literature lovers.

Tala

Pronunciation: TAH-lah · ˈtɑːlə
Meaning: Gold, grace
Popularity: #1,336 and rising (#1,461 → #1,336, 2024)

Short and luminous; evokes both wealth and lightness at once.

Salma

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

Calm and grounded; Salma Hayek gave it global recognition.

Nadia

Origin: Slavic/Arabic
Pronunciation: NAH-dee-ah · ˈnɑːdiə
Meaning: hope (Slavic, from Nadezhda); also ‘tender’ in Arabic usage
Popularity: #513 and falling (#489 → #513, 2024)

Bridges Muslim and non-Muslim naming traditions; globally recognized.

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 name of Pharaoh’s wife who raised Moses; strong, compassionate, and Qur’anic.

Ghusun

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: GHOO-sun
Meaning: Branches or boughs
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Poetic and unusual; a Levantine gem for families who love uncommon names.

Sulafa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-LAH-fah · suˈlaːfa
Meaning: choicest wine or purest extract
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and lyrical; found in classical Arabic poetry.

Maahira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MAH-hee-rah · ˈmɑːhɪrə
Meaning: skilled and adept
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Celebrates competence alongside elegance; less common but memorable.

Farah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAIR-ah · ˈfɛrə
Meaning: joy; happiness
Popularity: #1,363 and falling (#1,310 → #1,363, 2024)

Buoyant and easy; one of the most universally loved short names in the Arab world.

Amal

Origin: Arabic and Hebrew
Pronunciation: AH-mahl · ˈɑːmɑːl
Meaning: hope
Popularity: #1,227 and falling (#1,195 → #1,227, 2024)

Carries both feminine delicacy and forward-looking strength simultaneously.

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

Soft and botanical; the name of a famous classical Arab poetess.

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

Celebrated in classical poetry; suggests an effortless, natural kind of bearing.

Malaika

Origin: Swahili
Pronunciation: mah-LY-kah · mɑːˈlaɪkə
Meaning: angel
Popularity: #2,201 and rising (#2,479 → #2,201, 2024)

Floats off the tongue; wildly popular in East Africa and among diaspora communities.

Names That Mean Joy & Happiness

Some names are aspirations; these are celebrations. Many are given at joyful moments — Eid births, long-awaited pregnancies, first daughters after a string of boys. The Arabic tradition of naming around emotion is one of the warmest threads in the whole tapestry.

Farha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAR-hah · ˈfɑːrhæ
Meaning: delight or joy
Popularity: #13,976 and falling (#11,520 → #13,976, 2024)

Buoyant and spirited; the variant Farah is equally beloved.

Hana

Origin: Various (Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Hawaiian, Māori, Albanian)
Pronunciation: HAH-nuh · ˈhɑːnə
Meaning: varies by origin: ‘flower’ (Japanese), ‘grace/favor’ (Hebrew, via Hannah), ‘bliss’ (Arabic), ‘hope’ (Kurdish), among others
Popularity: #708 and rising (#727 → #708, 2024)

Works across cultures without losing its Islamic grounding.

Haniya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-NEE-yah · hæˈniːjə
Meaning: Pleasant and delighted
Popularity: #2,532 and rising (#2,712 → #2,532, 2024)

The musical extension of Hana; adds warmth without adding weight.

Afrah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AF-rah · ˈæf.rɑː
Meaning: joys and celebrations
Popularity: #11,091 and rising (#12,207 → #11,091, 2024)

Celebratory and warm; often given to girls born during Eid.

Surur

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: soo-ROOR · suˈruːr
Meaning: joy and delight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bahja

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: BAH-jah · ˈbɑːhdʒə
Meaning: joy or delight
Popularity: #15,541 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Luminous and rare; evokes a deep, settled happiness rather than surface excitement.

Masarra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: muh-SAHR-rah · məˈsɑːrə
Meaning: joy or delight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Literary and uncommon; a name for families who love classical Arabic.

Fareeha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: fah-REE-hah · fæˈriːhæ
Meaning: happy or joyful
Popularity: #16,015 and falling (#11,519 → #16,015, 2024)

A popular variant form; widely used in Pakistan and the Gulf.

Nuzha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NOOZ-huh · ˈnʊzhə
Meaning: Pleasure trip, promenade, or excursion
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-fashioned in the best way; carries a sense of gentle, unhurried delight.

Muna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MOO-nah · ˈmʊnə
Meaning: wishes or desires
Popularity: #4,161 and rising (#4,331 → #4,161, 2024)

Wistful and lovely; quiet in its aspiration.

Amani

Origin: Swahili (possibly also Arabic)
Pronunciation: ah-MAH-nee · ɑːˈmɑːni
Meaning: peace
Popularity: #634 and falling (#621 → #634, 2024)

Expansive and hopeful; deeply popular in East Africa.

Hidaya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hee-DAH-yah
Meaning: Guidance
Popularity: #6,005 and rising (#6,759 → #6,005, 2024)

Afiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-FEE-yah · ɑːˈfiː.jə
Meaning: health and vitality
Popularity: #9,537 and falling (#6,169 → #9,537, 2024)

Widely beloved in East Africa; a wish for the child’s flourishing rather than just her appearance.

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)

Bright and forward-looking; the name literally announces joy.

Inas

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

Warm and connective; suggests someone who naturally brings people together.

Ifra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: IF-rah · ˈɪfrɑː
Meaning: Joy
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Brief and bright; used in the Indian subcontinent and among Kashmiri communities.

Rawdah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ROW-dah · ˈrawd̪ah
Meaning: Garden or meadow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Evokes the gardens of paradise; peaceful and unusual outside Arab-speaking families.

Misk

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MISK · mɪsk
Meaning: musk perfume
Popularity: #1,912 and rising (#2,431 → #1,912, 2024)

Rare and sensory; evokes warmth, sweetness, and the scent of celebration.

Labiba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: lah-BEE-buh · ləˈbiːbə
Meaning: intelligent and sensible
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Celebrates intellect with a gentle sound; joy through wisdom.

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)

Warm and sociable; someone who makes every gathering brighter.

Riham

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ree-HAHM · riːˈhɑːm
Meaning: Light continuous rain or drizzle
Popularity: #17,120 and falling (#10,983 → #17,120, 2024)

Tender and rare; the soft rains that nourish without flooding.

Raneem

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-NEEM · rɑːˈniːm
Meaning: Sweet singing, melody, or chanting
Popularity: #6,321 and rising (#7,961 → #6,321, 2024)

Musical and tender; a name for a joyful, melodic spirit.

Mabruka

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mah-BROO-kah · mæbˈruːkə
Meaning: blessed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Gracious and festive; common in the Gulf and East Africa.

Saida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-EE-dah · sahˈiːdə
Meaning: happy and fortunate
Popularity: #4,742 and rising (#5,702 → #4,742, 2024)

Bright and optimistic; the feminine of Said.

Bahiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-HEE-yah · bæˈhiː.jɐ
Meaning: radiant or beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Glowing with an uncomplicated happiness; used across North Africa.

Nailah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NYE-lah · ˈnaɪlə
Meaning: attainer or achiever
Popularity: #1,812 and falling (#1,693 → #1,812, 2024)

Confident and aspirational; borne by the wife of Caliph Uthman.

Names Rooted in Nature & Garden

Persian and Arabic both have extraordinary nature vocabularies, and Islamic art and architecture are saturated with garden imagery — paradise itself is described as a garden with rivers of water, milk, and honey. These names bring that imagery directly into the nursery.

Rawda

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ROW-dah · ˈrawda
Meaning: Garden or meadow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet and pastoral; evokes the gardens of paradise described in the Qur’an.

Firdaus

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: feer-DOWSS · fɪrˈdaʊs
Meaning: paradise or garden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Gulshan

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: GOOL-shahn · ˈɡʊlʃɑːn
Meaning: Rose garden or flower garden
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Romantic and expansive; a name that opens into wide, fragrant space.

Bahar

Origin: Persian (root of the Turkish word)
Pronunciation: bah-HAHR · bɑːˈhɑːr
Meaning: spring, springtime
Popularity: #4,118 and rising (#5,778 → #4,118, 2024)

Fresh and seasonal; the name of renewal itself.

Saba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SAH-bah · ˈsɑːbə
Meaning: morning breeze / east wind
Popularity: #4,741 and rising (#5,519 → #4,741, 2024)

Light and fresh; the wind that carries good news in classical poetry.

Nasim

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-SEEM · nɑːˈsiːm
Meaning: gentle breeze
Popularity: #7,560 and falling (#5,595 → #7,560, 2024)

Airy and gentle; a name that feels like a spring morning arriving through a window.

Wardah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: WAR-dah · ˈwɑːrdæ
Meaning: rose
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Classical and fragrant; the full form of Warda.

Yasmine

Origin: Arabic (ultimately Persian, French-influenced spelling)
Pronunciation: yaz-MEEN · jæzˈmiːn
Meaning: jasmine flower
Popularity: #1,207 and rising (#1,418 → #1,207, 2024)

The fuller form with an ‘e’; often preferred in French-speaking Muslim communities.

Gulnara

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: gool-NAH-rah · ɡʊlˈnɑːrə
Meaning: Pomegranate blossom
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Romantic and ornate; popular across Central Asia and Turkey.

Narjis

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

Poetic and sensory; the Persian form Narges is equally beautiful.

Nargis

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

Fragrant and lyrical; a beloved name in Urdu literature and Bollywood history.

Ghazala

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: gah-ZAH-lah · ɡæˈzɑːlə
Meaning: Female gazelle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Graceful and wild; the classical metaphor for feminine beauty in Arabic poetry.

Roza

Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: ROH-zuh · ˈroʊzə
Meaning: Rose
Popularity: #7,168 and falling (#5,911 → #7,168, 2024)

The Persian form brings a soft, velvety elegance; widely used in Iran, Afghanistan, and South Asia.

Shireen / Shirin

Origin: Persian
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

From the Persian epic of Shirin and Farhad; timeless, melodic, and deeply romantic.

Khulood

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: khoo-LOOD · xuˈluːd
Meaning: immortality or eternity
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Philosophical and rare; wishes the child eternal, undying vitality.

Azhar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AZ-har · ˈæzhɑːr
Meaning: radiant or shining
Popularity: #12,313 and falling (#9,067 → #12,313, 2024)

The plural makes it expansive; also the name of the famous Egyptian university Al-Azhar.

Sanober

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: sah-NOH-ber · səˈnoʊbər
Meaning: Pine tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tall and resilient; a nature name with an unusual Urdu-specific charm.

Riyad

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ree-YAHD · riˈjɑːd
Meaning: Gardens or meadows
Popularity: #5,592 and falling (#4,851 → #5,592, 2024)

Plural and expansive; feels simultaneously classical and modern.

Dilnoza

Origin: Persian/Uzbek (compound name)
Pronunciation: dil-NOH-zuh · dɪlˈnoʊzə
Meaning: Soul’s delight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and expressive; popular across Central Asia and the Uzbek diaspora.

Nasreen

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: naz-REEN · næzˈriːn
Meaning: wild rose
Popularity: #10,012 and falling (#9,420 → #10,012, 2024)

Marwa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MAR-wah · ˈmɑːrwə
Meaning: white flint stone
Popularity: #1,809 and rising (#1,955 → #1,809, 2024)

Botanical and sacred at once; pilgrims walk between Safa and Marwa during Hajj.

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)

Fragrant and earthy; the name of a woman who was dear to the Prophet.

Warda

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

The compact, beloved form; a grandmother name with perpetual freshness.

Layla

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

Iconic in Arabic poetry; the beloved in the epic of Layla and Majnun — a name that has crossed every border.

Tahira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: tah-HEER-uh · tɑːˈhɪərə
Meaning: pure, chaste (feminine form of Arabic ṭāhir)
Popularity: #6,347 and falling (#4,552 → #6,347, 2024)

Spiritual purity meets natural freshness; one of the epithets of Khadijah.

Reem

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

Poetic and delicate; a natural metaphor for grace that Arabic poets have used for a thousand years.

Rasha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAH-shah · ˈrɑːʃə
Meaning: Young gazelle
Popularity: #13,151 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

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)

Names That Mean Strength & Honor

These names do not apologize for their power. Muslim history is full of women who led armies, preserved knowledge, challenged injustice, and built institutions — and their names carry that energy forward.

Iman

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

One of the most loved Islamic names; carries conviction and spiritual depth without being heavy.

Amira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-MEER-ah · əˈmɪərə
Meaning: princess (feminine of amir, ‘prince/commander’)
Popularity: #136 and falling (#131 → #136, 2024)

Widely used across the Muslim world; regal without being distant or cold.

Malak

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: mah-LAHK · mɑːˈlɑːk
Meaning: angel
Popularity: #1,665 and rising (#1,787 → #1,665, 2024)

Short and arresting; common from Egypt to the Gulf.

Azza

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AZ-ah · ˈæzə
Meaning: the dear one; might, power
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and forceful; a classical name with strikingly modern energy.

Qudsia

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KOOD-see-uh · ˈqʊdsɪjə
Meaning: Holy or sacred
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Transcendent and rare; carries a sense of divine untouchability.

Wafa

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

A virtue name that cuts deep; steady, unshowy, and profoundly meaningful.

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)

Majestic and Qur’anically significant; the Sidrat al-Muntaha marks the furthest boundary any created being has reached.

Safiya

Origin: Arabic (widely used in Swahili-speaking East Africa)
Pronunciation: sah-FEE-yah · sɑːˈfiːjə
Meaning: pure; close/chosen friend
Popularity: #1,389 and rising (#1,436 → #1,389, 2024)

The name of one of the Prophet’s wives; combines purity with quiet, unshakeable strength.

Hafsah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HAHF-sah · ˈhɑːfsə
Meaning: Young lioness or lion cub
Popularity: #3,594 and rising (#4,596 → #3,594, 2024)

The name of a wife of the Prophet and keeper of the original Qur’anic manuscript; strong and devoted.

Khadijah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: kah-DEE-zhuh · kəˈdiːʒə
Meaning: The Prophet’s first wife and the first Muslim
Popularity: #1,299 and rising (#1,403 → #1,299, 2024)

The most honored woman in Islamic history; she was a businesswoman, a supporter, and a believer before anyone else.

Fatima / Fatimah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAH-tih-muh · ˈfɑːtɪmə
Meaning: one who weans
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Prophet’s beloved daughter; the most iconic name in Islam for women.

Aisha

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

The Prophet’s wife and one of the most prolific scholars of early Islam; vibrant and intellectually strong.

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 in Islam, killed for refusing to renounce her faith; a name of extraordinary courage.

Asma / Asmaa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AHS-mah · ˈɑːsmə
Meaning: lofty or supreme
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The daughter of Abu Bakr who carried food to the Prophet in secret; dignified and historically rich.

Arwa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: AR-wah · ˈɑːrwɑː
Meaning: a female ibex or mountain goat, prized in Arabic poetry for grace
Popularity: #2,167 and falling (#2,019 → #2,167, 2024)

A companion of the Prophet known for her sharp mind; sure-footed and resilient.

Hind

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: HIND · hɪnd
Meaning: Herd of camels
Popularity: #14,072 and falling (#12,626 → #14,072, 2024)

Zulaikha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zoo-LAY-kuh · zuːˈleɪkə
Meaning: Brilliant, beautiful
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The legendary woman of Yusuf’s story; complex, passionate, and ultimately devoted to truth.

Manal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: muh-NAHL · məˈnɑːl
Meaning: attainment or achievement
Popularity: #3,925 and rising (#4,092 → #3,925, 2024)

Ambitious and grounded; celebrates the idea of earning what you seek through effort.

Razan

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-ZAHN · rəˈzɑːn
Meaning: Composure, dignity, or sober-mindedness
Popularity: #2,179 and rising (#2,726 → #2,179, 2024)

Calm and collected; a name that embodies composure under pressure.

Ghufran

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: goof-RAHN · ɡʊfˈrɑːn
Meaning: Forgiveness or pardon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Spiritual and profound; a name that carries the weight and generosity of mercy.

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)

Bold and majestic; a historical title given as a name to daughters of the powerful.

Joud

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

Farida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: fah-REE-dah · fəˈriːdə
Meaning: unique, unmatched (feminine of Farid)
Popularity: #3,981 and rising (#4,000 → #3,981, 2024)

Confident and singular; celebrates the child’s absolute irreplaceability.

Hamida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-MEE-dah · hæˈmiːdə
Meaning: Praiseworthy or commendable
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Devotional and warm; the feminine of Hamid.

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)

Principled and strong; carries Islamic jurisprudential weight.

Naziha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-ZEE-hah · nɑːˈziːhə
Meaning: honest and upright
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sabira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-BEER-uh · saːˈbiːra
Meaning: patient and enduring
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet strength; patience is one of the most praised virtues in Islamic ethics.

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)

The name of the Prophet’s daughter; elegant and deeply historical.

Umama

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

The name of the Prophet’s granddaughter; rare and beautifully classical.

Nusaibah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: noo-SAY-buh · nuːˈseɪbə
Meaning: Appropriate, fitting, or of noble lineage
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Companion who fought to protect the Prophet at the Battle of Uhud; fierce and tender simultaneously.

Names That Mean Beloved & the Heart

The Arabic root h-b-b (love) and its cousins run through some of the most intimate names in the Islamic tradition. Persian added layers of passionate romantic language — the ghazal poets built entire worlds around beloved names. These names sit in that warmth.

Habiba

Origin: Arabic (feminine of Habib), used in Swahili
Pronunciation: hah-BEE-bah · hɑːˈbiːbə
Meaning: beloved, darling
Popularity: #5,843 and falling (#4,396 → #5,843, 2024)

The feminine of Habib; warm, intimate, and universally understood.

Humaira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hoo-MY-rah · huːˈmaɪrɑː
Meaning: little rosy or reddish one
Popularity: #7,029 and rising (#8,215 → #7,029, 2024)

The pet name the Prophet used for Aisha; deeply affectionate and historically tender.

Widad

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

Lyrical and rare; a name that feels like an embrace.

Arjumand

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: ar-joo-MAND · ɑːrdʒʊˈmænd
Meaning: noble or esteemed
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The actual birth name of Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the Taj Mahal was built; extraordinarily romantic.

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)

Romantic and passionate; deeply beloved in Turkey and Central Asia.

Ahlam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-LAHM · æħˈlæːm
Meaning: ‘dreams’ (Arabic plural of dream)
Popularity: #3,010 and rising (#3,834 → #3,010, 2024)

Plural and expansive; given to girls considered living gifts of hope.

Shaheena

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: shah-HEE-nuh · ʃɑːˈhiːnə
Meaning: Falcon
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold and free-spirited; widely used in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Lubab

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: loo-BAHB · luˈbaːb
Meaning: the essence or core
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and substantial; captures what is most essential in a person.

Gharam

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: gah-RAHM · ɣaˈraːm
Meaning: Passion, love
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Intense and poetic; for families who embrace emotional honesty in a name.

Wajd

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: WAHJD · wædʒd
Meaning: ecstasy or deep affection
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mystical and intense; associated with Sufi traditions of divine love.

Shahd

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

Sweet and sensory; used across the Gulf and Arab world with uncomplicated warmth.

Dunia

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: DOON-yah · ˈduːnjə
Meaning: world
Popularity: #7,669 and rising (#12,476 → #7,669, 2024)

Expansive and worldly; a name that embraces the full richness of earthly life.

Ruba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ROO-bah · ˈruːbə
Meaning: hills
Popularity: #10,893 and rising (#17,133 → #10,893, 2024)

Short and earthy; used across the Arab world.

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 strong; used across the Arab world and among diaspora communities.

Zulfa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ZOOL-fah · ˈzʊlfə
Meaning: nearness or closeness
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The sense of being close to the divine; rare and quietly meaningful.

Sirin

Origin: Persian (spelling variant of Shirin)
Pronunciation: shee-REEN · ʃiːˈriːn
Meaning: sweet
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A gentler variant of Shirin; used in Kurdish communities and across Turkey.

Wardinah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: war-DEE-nah · wɑːrˈdiːnæ
Meaning: Rose
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Popular in Malaysia and Southeast Asian Muslim communities; a name that traveled beautifully.

Raniya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: rah-NEE-yuh · rɑːˈniːjə
Meaning: Gazing attentively
Popularity: #3,936 and falling (#3,894 → #3,936, 2024)

Energetic and visual; rarer than Rania and slightly more vivid.

Noor-ul-Ain

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: noor-ool-EYEN · nuːr ʊl ˈaɪn
Meaning: Light of the eye
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Shahida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: shah-HEE-duh · ʃæˈhiː.də
Meaning: witness or martyr
Popularity: #17,375 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Deep and solemn; a name that holds the weight of seeing clearly.

Dina

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

Clean and strong; used across Muslim communities where Arabic and Hebrew share roots.

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)

Warm and maternal; the word used for a parent’s tender love for a child.

Nura

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: NOO-ruh · ˈnuːrə
Meaning: Light
Popularity: #3,200 and rising (#3,893 → #3,200, 2024)

The Urdu diminutive form of Noor; warm and familiar.

Rajwa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAJ-wah · ˈrad͡ʒwaː
Meaning: Hope or expectation
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Names That Mean Pure & Blessed

Purity — tahara — is a physical, spiritual, and moral concept woven through Islamic practice. Names in this cluster are not about innocence in a passive sense; they are about integrity, wholeness, and being fully what one is meant to be.

One of the epithets of Khadijah; a name that reaches back to the very beginning of Islam.

Tayyiba

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: TAY-yee-buh
Meaning: good and pure
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Simple, warm, and virtuous; widely used across the Muslim world.

Zakiyya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zah-KEE-yah · zæˈkiːjæ
Meaning: pure and virtuous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A virtue name that honors both spiritual and intellectual qualities together.

Zahira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zah-HEER-ah · zɑːˈhiːrə
Meaning: radiant, shining
Popularity: #3,948 and rising (#4,040 → #3,948, 2024)

The outer expression of inner virtue; bright and self-assured.

Mutahara

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: moo-tah-HAH-rah · muːtɑːˈhɑːrə
Meaning: purified and clean
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Spiritual and rare; carries a sense of divine cleansing and consecration.

Naiema

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-EE-mah · nɑːˈiːmə
Meaning: delightful and living in ease
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and nurturing; the feminine of Naim.

Maimuna

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: my-MOO-nah · maɪˈmuːnə
Meaning: auspicious and blessed
Popularity: #6,805 and rising (#11,784 → #6,805, 2024)

The name of a wife of the Prophet; gentle and auspicious.

Halima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-LEE-mah · hɑːˈliːmə
Meaning: gentle, patient
Popularity: #1,683 and rising (#2,006 → #1,683, 2024)

The name of the Prophet’s wet nurse who raised him in the desert; deeply honored.

Amana

Origin: Hebrew/Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-MAH-nuh · əˈmɑːnə
Meaning: faithfulness or trust, from a shared Hebrew-Arabic root for ‘firm, trustworthy’
Popularity: #5,951 and rising (#8,081 → #5,951, 2024)

Virtue-based and quiet; evokes the sacred trust (amanah) between God and humanity.

Sadiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-DEE-yuh · səˈdiːjə
Meaning: fortunate, happy (from an Arabic root relating to good luck/happiness)
Popularity: #4,172 and rising (#4,717 → #4,172, 2024)

Warm and hopeful; used in East Africa and across South Asia.

Khayra

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KHY-rah · ˈxajra
Meaning: goodness or virtue
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

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)

Clean and generous; announces the child simply and beautifully as a gift.

Atiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: uh-TEE-yuh · əˈtiːjə
Meaning: ‘gift,’ from an Arabic root meaning ‘to give’
Popularity: #13,653 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

More formal than Hiba; used in Egypt and across North Africa.

Minha

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MIN-hah · ˈmɪnhɑː
Meaning: gift or grant
Popularity: #1,830 and rising (#2,188 → #1,830, 2024)

Uncommon and meaningful; used in South Asia.

Manhal

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: MAN-hahl · ˈmænhɑːl
Meaning: fresh spring or watering place
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Siddiqah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: sih-DEE-kuh · sɪˈdiːkə
Meaning: truthful and righteous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The epithet of Aisha bint Abi Bakr; unimpeachable honesty as an identity.

Mukarrama

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: moo-KAR-uh-muh · muːˈkɑːrəmə
Meaning: honored and respected
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Dignified and rare; used in North Africa and the Gulf.

Tasnim

Origin: Arabic (Qur’anic)
Pronunciation: taz-NEEM · tæzˈniːm
Meaning: a spring in Paradise
Popularity: #3,626 and rising (#4,033 → #3,626, 2024)

Rare and Qur’anic; the name of one of the streams described in the Quran.

Kawthar

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: KOW-thar · ˈkaʊθɑːr
Meaning: Abundance
Popularity: #8,672 and falling (#7,824 → #8,672, 2024)

Named for Surah Al-Kawthar; one of the most sacred Qur’anic names for a girl.

Shaima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: shy-MAH · ʃaɪˈmɑː
Meaning: marked with a beauty mark
Popularity: #10,191 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The name of the Prophet’s foster sister; warm and historical.

Barira

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bah-REE-rah · bæˈriː.rɐ
Meaning: Pious, righteous
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Borne by a famous freed female companion; carries quiet dignity and a history of liberation.

Uswa

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: OOS-wah · ˈʊswə
Meaning: role model or example
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Aspirational and uncommon; sets the child up from birth as a guiding presence.

Zubaidah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: zoo-BAY-dah
Meaning: elite or best part
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Zubaidah is an Arabic diminutive meaning ‘cream’ or ‘choicest part’, not ‘golden’.

Barakah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: BAH-rah-kah · ˈbæ.ræ.kæ
Meaning: blessing
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The full form of Baraka; expansive and devotional.

Nasima

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: nah-SEE-mah · nɑːˈsiːmə
Meaning: gentle breeze
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Purity in the form of air; a light, clean name.

Wafiya

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: wah-FEE-yah · wæˈfiːjæ
Meaning: faithful and loyal
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A stronger, more emphatic form of Wafa; deep fidelity made into a name.

Classic Names From Islamic History & Scripture

These are names carried by the Prophet’s family, his wives, his companions, and figures from the Qur’an. Each one has a story behind it — a woman who did something, said something, protected someone, built something. These are not just beautiful sounds; they are a lineage.

Aminah

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

The name of the Prophet’s mother; beloved and revered as the woman who raised God’s final messenger.

Maryam

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

The only woman named in the Qur’an; she has an entire chapter (Surah Maryam) dedicated to her.

Fatimah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: FAH-tih-mah · ˈfɑːtɪmə
Meaning: one who weans
Popularity: #2,305 and falling (#1,937 → #2,305, 2024)

The Prophet’s daughter; the Lady of Heaven in Islamic tradition.

Asma

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

Abu Bakr’s daughter who smuggled food to the Prophet; called Dhat al-Nitaqayn (She of the Two Belts).

The Prophet’s wife who was entrusted with preserving the original compiled Qur’an.

– **Umm Salamah** — Her given name was Hind; this kunya means “mother of Salamah.” For the given name: **Hind** — Classical Arab name of deep antiquity; strong, spare, and historically resonant.

The Prophet’s daughter; one of the earliest emigrants to Abyssinia.

The name of both the Prophet’s daughter and granddaughter; revered across the Shia and Sunni traditions.

Ramlah

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAHM-lah · ˈramlah
Meaning: Grain of sand
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Prophet’s wife Umm Habibah’s given name; earthy and historical.

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

A wife of the Prophet; her marriage freed an entire tribe from captivity.

Rufaida

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: roo-FY-duh · ruːˈfaɪdə
Meaning: Helper or one who gives support/aid
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

An early Muslim woman and pioneering nurse who treated the wounded in battle; the Islamic world’s first field medic.

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

Bilqis

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: bil-KEES · bɪlˈkiːs
Meaning: The Queen of Sheba
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Referenced in the Qur’an as a leader of extraordinary wisdom; one of the most powerful women in scriptural history.

Safura

Origin: Hebrew via Arabic
Pronunciation: sah-FOO-rah · saːˈfuːra
Meaning: bird
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Qur’anic figure; rare, ancient, and meaningful for families who love scriptural grounding.

Sawda

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: SOW-dah · ˈsaʊdə
Meaning: dark-complexioned
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The first woman the Prophet married after Khadijah’s death; gentle and steadfast.

The Prophet’s granddaughter whom he carried on his shoulders while praying; rare and deeply classical.

– **Barira** — Already noted; a freed companion whose case shaped Islamic family law.

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)

Deeply warm; one of the words associated with divine generosity in the Qur’an.

Rafida

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Supporter or giver
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings