{"id":14944,"date":"2017-10-19T06:32:23","date_gmt":"2017-10-19T06:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/?p=14944"},"modified":"2017-10-19T06:32:23","modified_gmt":"2017-10-19T06:32:23","slug":"names-and-titles-in-arabic-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/names-and-titles-in-arabic-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Names and Titles in Arabic Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Arab World \u0627\u0644\u0648\u064e\u0637\u064e\u0646<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a<\/strong> or \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0645<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a<\/strong>, choosing a name for a newborn is in the main influenced by religion, that is it is always Islamic and derived from Arabic language. Some name their babies after a famous or influential person, some after an elder family member, and others follow what is \u00e0 la mode. However, certain names are perpetually popular, regardless of trends and social mobility.<\/p>\n

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images from flick.com (see footnotes for definitions)<\/p><\/div>\n

During the 1960s and 1970s, Jamal \u062c\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0644<\/strong> and \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0635\u0650\u0631<\/strong> were very popular names across the Arab World. Many Arabs named their babies after Jamal Abdel Nasser, the president of Egypt from 1956 to 1970. Similarly, Saddam \u0635\u064e\u062f\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0645<\/strong> was a hugely popular name in the eighties and nineties, especially in countries like Yemen, Jordan, and Iraq.<\/p>\n

In certain parts of the Arab World like Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria, a good many people tend to choose names that are more trendy and foreign-like, especially female names. On the other hand, people in countries like Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan pick names that are more traditional and profoundly rooted in Arabic and Islamic culture. This is, in part, owing the fact that tribal traditions and structure still constitute an integral part of these countries. In the Maghreb, i.e. Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, though much less tribal, people tend to prefer names that are more Islamic and Arabic in root.<\/p>\n

Popular Male Names: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the Arab World, the most popular male names are \u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f<\/strong> (Mohammed, Mohammad, Mohamad, or Mohd\/Moh\u2019d for short), \u0623\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u062f<\/strong> (Ahmed, Ahmad), \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a<\/strong> (Ali), \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647<\/strong> (Abdullah), \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0646<\/strong> (Abdulrahman), \u0639\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0631<\/strong>\/\u0639\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0631<\/strong> (Amr, Omar\/Umar), \u0623\u064e\u0645\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> (Ameen, Amin), \u064a\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0641<\/strong> (Yousif, Yosef), \u062e\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u062f<\/strong> (Khalid, Khaled), \u062d\u064e\u0633\u064e\u0646<\/strong> (Hasan, Hassan). So, what does each of these names mean?<\/p>\n

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  • \u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f<\/strong> (Mohammed):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    It is derived from the Arabic root \u062d\u064e\u0645\u064e\u062f\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to praise\u2019, and from this root the exaggerated form \u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to repeatedly praise\u2019 is derived by adding the \u0634\u064e\u062f\u0651\u064e\u0629<\/strong> shaddah<\/em> to the middle letter. \u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f<\/strong> is the passive participle nominal form which means the one who is overly and abundantly praised<\/em>. Also, it is the name of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed (pbuh).<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \u0623\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u062f<\/strong> (Ahmed):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Derived from the same root as Mohammed. It means worthy of praise. Also, it is another name for Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).<\/p>\n

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      • \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a<\/strong> (Ali):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        It is derived from the Arabic root \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0627<\/strong> \u2018to be higher in status or outstanding\u2019. It means highly<\/em> honored<\/em>. Also, it is the name of the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647<\/strong> (Abdullah):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          It is a compound name the first part of which means servant<\/em> and second means Allah<\/em> (God), hence \u2018servant of God\u2019.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0646<\/strong> (Abdulrahman):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Like Abdullah<\/em>, it is a compound name that means servant of the Compassionate<\/em>. \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0646<\/strong> Ar-raHman <\/em>is one of the names of God in Islam, which include 99 names referred to as \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u064f\u0633\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0649<\/strong> asma\u2019a Allah al-Husnaa<\/em> \u2018the Glorious Names of God.\u2019<\/p>\n

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            • \u0639\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0631<\/strong> (Amr, Omar):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              It is derived from the word \u0639\u064f\u0645\u0652\u0631<\/strong> \u2018umr <\/em>\u2018life time\u2019. It means long life<\/em>. It is also a popular name of a companion of Prophet Mohammed \u0639\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0631 \u0628\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u062e\u064e\u0637\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0628<\/strong> Omar ibn al-KhaTTab<\/em>. He was a great Caliphate and most Arabs and Muslims name their Baby-boys after him.<\/p>\n

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              • \u0623\u064e\u0645\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> (Ameen):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                It is derived from the root \u0623\u064e\u0645\u064f\u0646\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to have trust on\u2019. It means honest <\/em>or trustworthy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • \u064a\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0641<\/strong> (Yousif):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  It is a Hebrew name. It is the name of Prophet Joseph (pbuh), the son of Prophet Jacob (pubh). Its popularity in Arabic comes from the story of Prophet Joseph (pbuh) which is recounted in one chapter in the Holy Quran, called \u0633\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629 \u064a\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0641<\/strong> surat Yousif<\/em>.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • \u062e\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u062f<\/strong> (Khalid):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    It is derived from the Arabic root \u062e\u064e\u0644\u064e\u062f\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to last for a long time.\u2019 It means the one who ages slowly<\/em> compared to others. Also, it is a name of a famous companion and great warrior during the early days of Islam, \u062e\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u062f \u0628\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0648\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a\u0652\u062f<\/strong> Khalid ibn al-Waleed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • \u062d\u064e\u0633\u064e\u0646<\/strong> (Hassan):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      It is derived from the Arabic root \u062d\u064e\u0633\u064f\u0646\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to become beautiful\/handsome\u2019. It means the one who is beautiful and pleasant to look at<\/em>. Also, it is the name of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).<\/p>\n

                      Compound Male names: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

                      Compound male names are popular in Arabic. They typically constitute two words forming an iDHafah Structure<\/em> \u0625\u0650\u0636\u064e\u0627\u0641\u064e\u0629<\/strong>. The first most popular is \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f<\/strong> followed by a name (of the 99 name of God), such as \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647<\/strong> Abdullah,<\/em> \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0644\u0627\u0645<\/strong> Abdulsalam<\/em>, \u0639\u064e\u0628\u0652\u062f\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0641\u064e\u062a\u0651\u064e\u0627\u062d<\/strong> Abdulfattah <\/em>and so forth. The second most popular is the one that ends in \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> -addin<\/em> \u2018religion\u2019, such as \u0635\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0627\u062d\u064f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> Salahuddin<\/em>, \u0646\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> Nouruddin, <\/em>\u062e\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0651\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> Khairuddin<\/em>, and so forth.<\/p>\n

                      Popular Female Names: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

                      In the Arab countries that are more embracing of Western values, such as Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria, baby-girls are named less conservatively compared to baby-boys. They tend to choose names that more catchy and foreign-sounding. Overall, there are some traditional female names that are very common. Some of these are \u0641\u064e\u0627\u0637\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0629<\/strong> (Fatima), \u0645\u064e\u0631\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0645<\/strong> (Maryam), \u0646\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631<\/strong> (Nour), \u0633\u064e\u0627\u0631\u064e\u0629<\/strong> (Sarah), \u062c\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0649<\/strong> (Jana), \u062d\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0627<\/strong> (Hala), and \u0632\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0628<\/strong> (Zainab).<\/p>\n

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                      • \u0641\u064e\u0627\u0637\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0629<\/strong> (Fatima):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Fatima is the daughter of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). Showing the love and affection for her, Arabs and Muslims name their daughters after her.<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • \u0645\u064e\u0631\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0645<\/strong> (Maryam):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          It is a Semitic name that means the lady<\/em>. Maryam is the daughter of Imran and the Mother of Prophet Jesus (pbuh). The story of Maryam is narrated in the Holy Quran in a chapter called \u0633\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629 \u0645\u064e\u0631\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0645<\/strong> surat Maryam<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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                          • \u0646\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631<\/strong> (Nour):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            It is derived from the Arabic root \u0646\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064e<\/strong> \u2018to light\u2019. It means light<\/em>. It can also be part of compound female names, such \u0646\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0639\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> Nourul\u2018ain<\/em> and \u0646\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0647\u064f\u062f\u064e\u0649<\/strong> Nourulhuda<\/em>.<\/p>\n