Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. This means that, unlike many European languages, it is not Indo-European, and so has an unfamiliar, yet intriguing sound base for English language speakers.
Arabic names have long been a key part of British names, particularly with a large Muslim population among which they are popular, and many currently grace the top 200. One of the most endearing elements of Arabic names is the uplifting and felicitous meanings. There's friendly Anisa, wise Hakim, virtuous Tahira and handsome Wasim.
Listed below is a selection of Arabic names. I have opted for the most popularly used spelling, though many have several spelling variations.
Abdul Abid Abyan Ahmed Alim Amir Aqil Asad Asim Ayaan Ayman Azaan Bahij Baqir Barak Basim Dabir Dawud Ehab Ehan Fadi Fadil Fahad Faheem Faisal Faiz Faizan Fareed Farhan Faris Faruq Ghalib Ghassan |
Hadi Hafiz Haidar Hakeem Hamid Hamza Harith Haroon Hashim Hasib Hassan Humayl Hussain Ibrahim Ikram Ilyas Iman Imran Isa Iskandar Ismail Jabir Jalal Jamal Jamil Jibril Junaid Kamal Kamil Karam Karim Kasim Khalid |
Khalil Latif Mahmoud Malak Malik Masud Mohammed Murad Mustafa Nabil Nadim Nadir Nasir Noor Omar Qadir Qais Qamar Qasim Rafi Rafiq Raheem Rais Rashid Riad Riaz Said Saleem Samir Shakir Usayd Wasim Zain |
Aadila Aaliyah Abia Adeela Adiba Afia Afra Afreen Afsana Aida Aila Aisha Aiyla Aleena Aleeza Alishba Amani Amina Amira Anisa Atiya Azra Aziza Bahiyyah Basma Dalila Daniyah Deeba Dima Ezzah Fadila Fahima Falisha |
Farah Farhana Faria Farida Fatima Fiza Ghada Ghania Habiba Hadia Hadiyya Hafiza Hafsa Haifa Hala Halima Hamida Hana Hanan Hanifa Haniya Hasiba Hasina Haziqah Hessa Hiba Hidayah Hira Huda Huma Iba Ifrah Inas |
Inaya Isra Jalila Jamila Jannah Jumana Junaina Kalila Karima Khadija Khalisah Layla Lamis Lamya Latifa Layali Liba Lujayn Lu'lu Madiha Mahira Maida Maisarah Malaika Malak Malika Maryam Misba Munira Mysha Nadia Nadira Nailah |
Naima Naina Naira Nasra Noor Raisa Rania Razia Reema Sabeen Sabiha Sabirah Saida Salima Salma Samira Samiya Shakira Shamila Sobia Soraya Sumaya Tahira Taliba Uzma Yasmin Zahra Zahira Zaida Zaina Zainab Zunairah Zia |