Aad (M)

Christian: obscure. Could be ancient or aramaic form of word for "festivity", or refer to an area that existed in the North-West of what is now Oman (families with that name believe they descend frm Christian tribes from the Arabian peninsula).

Aafya (F)

ar: health

= Afya (AH-fya), Afiya (ah-FEE-ya, swahili)

Abbas/Abbasa

ar: frowning, serious; a name of the lion due to his facial markings.

Abd (3abd) (M)

ar: slave, servant, worshipper (not to be confused with Abda, see Hebrew names)

-> Abduhu (His slave, a name of the Prophet), Abdo, Abdelkarim (slave of the Generous)

= Abdu, Abedi (swahili)

Abdallah (M)

Muslim and Christian, ar: slave of God

= Bûrlay (guinea), Abdalla, Abdul (swahili)

-> Abdo (chr), Abd (musl), Abboudi (all)

Abir (F)

ar: perfume, fragrance

= Abeer

Abla (F)

Well made, from the heroin of "Abla wa Antar". Probably not of Arabic origin but well ingrained.

Abu (M)

ar: father

= Abuu (swahili)

Abubikr (M)

name of the first calif who succeeded Mohammed.

= Abubakar (swahili), Abou-Bakr

Abussaud (M)

Grand Mufti of Istanbul during the Ottoman period

= Abou-Saoud, Aboussaoud

Adalat (3aDAlat) (F)

ar: justice

= Adla (AD-la, swahili)

Adel/Adla (3A-del)

ar: just, fair

= Adili/Adila (AH-dee-li/AH-dee-la, swahili)

Adham (M)

ar: brown

Adhar (AA-DHAR) (M, F)

ar: Mars

Adhra (3adh-ra) (F)

ar: apology

= Adhra (swahili)

Adhra' (3adh-RA') (F)

ar: virgin, chaste (only for the Virgin Mary), but also syr. help, helper.

-> F: Adra

-> M: Ezra, Esdras (biblical)

Adib/Adibé

ar: educated, cultured, polite

Adîgüzel (M)

turk: his name is beautiful

Adil (M)

turk: negotiation, exchange

Âdîna

pers: Friday

Adnan (3adNAN) (M)

Ar: good fortune

= Adnan (swahili)

Ads˘iz (M, F)

turk: nameless (and therefore protected form black magic)

Afaf (F)

purity, chastity

Âfet (F)

turk: [loveable] affliction

Afeef/Afeefe

ar: pure, chaste

= Afife/Afifé

Afrâsiyâb (M)

Persian hero

Afsâna

pers: story, tale

Âftâb

pers: sun

Afwat

ar: forgiveness

= F: Afua (AH-fwa, swahili)

Ahad

ar: Sunday

= F: Ladi (hausa)

= M: Danladi (hausa)

Ahif/Haifa

ar: Slender

Ahlam (aH-LAM) (F)

ar: [she with the beauty of] dreams

Aishe (F)

ar: life

= Eshe (EH-she, swahili)

Akâli

ar akl=food (Punjab, given during a famine)

Akbar (M)

Ar: greater

= Akbar (swahili)

Akef/Akfe

ar: Assiduous, perseverant

Akhtar

pers: stars

Akin (M)

turk: sudden afflux

Alâ'eddine (3a-LA'-ed-DEEN) (M)

ar: Heights of the Faith

= Aladdin (eng), Aladin (fra)

Alam (M)

ar: flag, standard; high mountain

Alamârâ

pers ârâ=ornating: ornating the world

-> Jahân-ârâ

Alameddine (M)

Druze, ar: Flag of the Faith

Alay (M)

turk: regiment

Aleef (M)

ar: sociable, friendly; syr: learned, scholarly

-> Alif

Alev (F)

turk: flame

Ali (3alee)/Alia

Shia, ar: elevated, noble, sublime (the female form is used by all)

= Alka' (3al-KA', Iran), Aliya (Isr, swahili)

Allah Bakhsh (M)

pers bakhsh=gift: gift of God

-> Ilâhîbakhsh, Yazdânbakhsh (Yazdân = old persian word for God)

Allahbas (F)

pers: God, enough! (at the birth of yet another girl in an already numerous family of girls)

Allahberdî (M)

turk berdî=he has given: God has given

-> Allahvirdî, Khâliqbirdî, Haqqverdî, Jabbârbirdî, Subhânverdî, Taghribirdî, Mengübirtî (the Eternal has given), Allâhberen (God gives)

Allah-dâd (M)

pers dâd=he has given: God has given

-> Ilâh-dâd, Khudâ-dâd

Almâs (F)

pers: diamond

= Almasi (swahili)

Amal (F)

Ar: hope

= Amali (swahili)

Aman (F)

Ar: trust

= Amana (swahili)

Amatallah (F)

syr amta=female servant of God, ar Allah

->Ama, Amat

Amin/Amina

ar: reliable, trustworthy

= Lamine (west afr), Amina (ah-mee-NAH), Aminah (ah-MEE-nah), Aminifu (AH-mee-nee-FUH) (swahili)

Amir/Amira

ar: prince/princess

-> M: Mir (meer)

-> F: Mira (meera)

Anayasa (F)

turk: constitution

Anbar (3AN-bar) (M, F)

ar: grey amber (the kind used in perfumes)

Andalib (3an-da-LEEB) (F)

ar: nightingale

-> Anadil (3a-NA-dil, nightingales)

Anjuman-ârâ

pers ârâ=ornating: ornating the assembly

Aoud (3awd)

ar: substitute, compensation (for a child born after a premature death)

Aoun (3awn) (M)

ar: help, charity

-> Muin (mu3-EEN, helping)

Aqeel/Aqeela or Aqeele

Shia, pers: precious, noble, superior

-> Aqil/Aqila, Akil/Akila

Aqel/Aqela or Aqlé

ar: intelligent, wise, but in daily speech docile, obedient

-> Akel/Aklé

= Akili/Akilah (swahili)

Aqiqi (M)

ar: carnelian or agate, or syr: friend

-> Akiki

Aql (M)

ar: reason, intelligence, spirit, wisdom

-> Akl

Aref (M)

ar: sage, scholar

= Arif (turk)

= F: Arifa, Arafa (AH-ra-fa) (swahili)

Armaghân (M)

pers: gift

= Arma˘gan (turk)

Armân (F)

pers: wish

Arslan (M)

turk: lion

-> Arslando˘gmush (a lion is born)

Arz (M)

ar: cedar

= Arza, Arzice, Arzit (isr)

Arzu (F)

pers: wish

= Arzu (turk)

Asaad (as-3AD) (M)

ar: happier

Asfour (3as-FUR) (M)

ar: bird

Asher/Ashera

ar: sociable, of good company (only coincidentially sounds like the word for "tenth")

=Acher/Achera

Ashur (3a-SHUR)

ar Ashura, shia memorial day for the Battle of Ashura

Asiya (AA-see-a)(F)

ar: the pharaoh's wife who rescued Moses

Asker (M)

turk: soldier

Asmah ('asma3) (M)

ar: loftier

Asmar/Samra (M)

ar: brown-black

Assad (M)

ar: lion

Âsumân

pers: sky

Ata (M)

turk: father, ancestor

Ata'allah (3a-TA'-al-LAH)(M)

ar: gift of God

-> Atallah, AtiyatAllah

Atesh (M)

turk: fire

Atika (F)

ar: clear, pure

Aus (F)

pers: wolf

Ay

turk: full moon

-> M: Aydoğmush, Aydemîr (moon iron)

-> F: Ayperi (moon fairy), Aymelek (moon angel), Senay (happy moon), Ayîshik (moonlight), Aysel (like the moon), Ayten (moon body)

-> Aydoğdu (a moon is born), Aykut (happy moon, fortunate moon)

Aydin (M)

turk: intellectual

Ayet

turk: a verse of the Qur'an

Ayoub (ay-YUB) (M)

ar: Job

=Eyyübe (turk)

Ayyash/Aisha (F)

ar: alive, prosperous (Aisha was a wife of the Prophet)

= Ayyache/Aïcha

Azal

ar: eternity

=Ezel (turk)

Aziz/Aziza

ar: very honored

Azzat (3AZ-zat)

ar: precious, rare

> Azza

= Taazait (berber)

Bâbur (M)

turk: tiger

=Babar (hind)

Bachr/Bachra

ar: Joy, merriment

-> Bachar (bash-SHAR, he who is full of joy), Bechara (be-SHA-ra, good news, good omen), Bachir (ba-SHEER, bearer of good news)

Badih/Badiha (ba-DEE3)

ar: without precendent

Badr (M, F)

ar: full moon

-> Budur (bu-DUR, full moons), Badri/Badriya (of the full moon), Baddur (bad-DUR, little full moon)

Badyn (M)

ar: corpulent

Baghl (M)

ar: ox

Bahâr (F)

pers: spring

-> Bahâr Bânû (Lady Spring)

Baher/Bahera

ar: superb

Bahjat (M, F)

ar: splendor

Bahr (M)

ar: sea, ocean

Bakr (M)

ar: firstborn

= Bekir (turk)

Bakraj

ar: coffe-pot

Balâsim (M, F)

ar bilâ ism: nameless (and so protected from black magic)

Ban (BAAN) (F)

ar: has reveal oneself, has appeared

Bânû (F)

pers: Lady, princess

-> mihrbânû, Mahbânû, Bâhâr Bânû (Lady Spring), Shahrbânû (Lady of the month, a persian heroin)

= Bano (hind)

Baqreidi (M)

Punjab, name given to children born on Adha

Baraka

ar: blessing

-> Barakat (blessings)

-> M: Mabruk (blessed)

-> F: Mubaraka (blessed)

Barghout (bar-GHUT) (M)

ar: flea

Barish (M)

turk: peace

Barq (M)

ar: lightning

Barsoum (M)

from greek nude, bared / syriac: son of fasting

Bashak (F)

turk: thorn, point

Bâshâ (M)

turk: noble (title of nobility)

Basmat (F)

ar: smile

-> Tabassum (smile), Bassam (bas-SAM, he who smiles a lot), Bassem (BA-sem, smiling), Ibtisama (smile)

Batoul (F)

ar: virgin (a name of Fatima)

= Betual (isr)

Bayram (M)

turk: celebration, religious festival

Bechai

Punjab: sold (name given after a protective ceremony during which the child is symbolically given away then bought back)

Begum (F)

turk, honorific title

Benturk

turk: I am Turkish

Berat

turk, given to a child born during Laylat el Bara'a

Beshbine (F)

turk: for five thousand (referring to a protective ceremony during which the child is symbolically given away then bought back)

Beste (F)

turk: musical

Betnazir

pers: like we have never seen

Bibi (F)

Hindi honorific address, pers: lady of the house

-> Bubu, Bi

Bihnâm (M, F)

pers bih=good, nâm=name: of good name

Bihrûz (M, F)

pers bih=good: good day

-> Rûzbih

Bihtar

pers: Best

Bihzâd (M, F)

pers: well born

Bilqîs (F)

ar: queen of Saba

= Balkis (eng, fra), Belkis (ethiop)

BinbašI (M)

turk: Major (in the army)

Binnâz (F)

turk nâz=coquetry: a thousand coquetries

Binnur (F)

turk: a thousand lights

Birsen

turk: you are unique

Bora (M)

turk: storm

Börü (M)

turk: wolf

Bozkurt (M)

Turk: grey wolf

Bseisa (M)

Beduin: kitten

Bulâqî (M, F)

Punjab: Nose ring (this usually is the sign of a married woman, and can be given to a boy, in which case it is very pejorative. This name is given to keep spirits at bay)

Bulbul/Bulbula

Ar: Nightingale

Bughâ (M)

Turk: Bull

-> Altun-Bughâ (God's Bull), Gümüs-Bughâ (Silver Bull), Kutlu-Bughâ (Lucky Bull), Demir-Bughâ (Iron Bull)

Bunna

Beduin: coffee grain

Burcu (F)

Turk: who smells good

Bustan (M)

Ar: orchard

Can (M)

Turk: life, soul

Canan (F)

Turk: loved

Cenk (M)

Turk: Battle

Ceyhan (F)

Turk: gazelle

Chaaban (M)

Ar: the 8th month

-> Shaaban

Chabbir (M)

Ar: a son of Aaron

-> Shabbir

Chadi/Chadia

Ar: singer

-> Shadi/Shadia

Chafiq/Chafiqa

Ar: compassionate

-> Shafic, Chafic

Chaghri

Pers: Falcon

Chaher/Chahera

Ar: famous

->Chaheer/Chaheera, Shaher/Shahera, Shaheer/Shaheera

Chahine (M)

Pers Shâhîn: Falcon

Chaker/Chakera

Ar: Greatful

-> Chukri/Chukriya: Thanking; Shaker, Shukri

Chakil

Ar: handsome

-> Shakil, Shakeel, Shaqill

Chamim (M, F)

Ar: fragrance, perfume

-> Shamim, Shameem

Charif/Charifa

Ar: eminent, honorable

-> Sharif, Shareef; Achraf, Ashraf (more honorable)

Chatha (F)

Ar: perfume, fragrance

Chebinou (M)

Ar protective name, from shay-baynahu: Something between him (and djinns)

Chehab (M)

Ar: quick flame

-> Shehab

Chilra

Punjab: lint (name to keep the djinns away)

Çiğden (F)

Turk: crocus

Cihan (M)

Turk: universe

Çingiz (M)

Turkish hero

Coshkun (M)

Turk: like fire

Cyrus (M)

Greek name Kuros, pers kuru=throne: the lord (pre-christian)

= Ciro (it)

-> M: CY

-> F: Cyra, Kyra

Dağ

Turk: mountain

Dananir (F)

Ar: Dinars (dinars are a form of currency)

Dârâ (M)

pers, from Darajavahush, daraya=to own, to maintain, vahu=good, name of Persian kings transcribed into Greek Darios

= M: Darius (fra, eng), Dario (it)

= F: Daria (it)

Darahim (F)

Ar: Dirhams (dirhams are a form of currency)

Daryâ

Pers: Ocean

Daulatshâd (F)

Pers daulat=reign: Happiness and reign

Demet

Turk: Bundle of flowers

Deniz (F)

Turk: Ocean

Derya (F)

Turk: Ocean

Deurim (M)

Turk: Revolution

Dharr (M)

Ar: Ant (very small)

Dhi'b

Ar: Wolf

Dijla (F)

Turk: the Tiger river

-> Dicle

Dil

Pers: heart

-> Purdil, Sherdil, Kohandil, Mihrdil

Dilek (F)

Turk: wish

Dirgham (M)

Ar: Lion

Döne (F)

Turk: Turn! (implies "turn to sons", given to the last in a long series of daughters without any sons)

Eid/Aida (M)

ar: festivity

= F: Eidi (EH-ee-dee, swahili)

Engin (M)

Turk: Vast, Ocean

Erdem (M)

Turk: Virtue

-> Ertem

Erkan (M)

Turk: High Officials

Erkin (M)

Turk: Independent

Esther (F)

Persian equivalent of the Biblical character's Hebrew name Hadassa: Myrtle

= Ester (fr), Hester (germ)

Evren (M)

Turk: Universe

Evrim (F)

Turk: Evolution

Eylem (F)

Turk: Action

Fadl (M)

Ar: Virtue, Grace (of God)

-> M: FadlAllah (Virtue of God)

-> F: Fadeela, Fadila (Virtue)

= Fazilet (turk)

Faed/Faeda (FA-'ed)

ar: benefit, advantage

Faeq/Faeqa (FA-'eq)

ar: surpassing, excellent

Faez/Faeza (FA-'ez)

ar: victorious

Fahd (M)

Ar: cheetah

Fakhreddine (M)

ar: pride of the Faith

Fallâh (M)

Beduin, ar: Peasant, given to a child born during reaping season.

Farah/Farha

ar: festivity, celebration, rejoicing.

-> Afrah (plural)

Fares (M)

Ar: Horserider

Farid/Farida

Ar: Unique; Pearl of great value (for the feminine form)

-> Faridûn (unique ones; Persian hero), Fara'ed (plural of Farida)

Farrukhzâd (M, F)

Pers: of Happy Birth

Fârûq (M)

Nickname of the caliph Omar

Fatih (M)

Turk: conquest

Fatima (F)

-> Faytama, Fattoum (diminutive)

= Patumappa (Canary islands)

Fawzi (M)

Ar: My Victory

Faysal (M)

Ar: Sword

-> Fayçal

Ferdi (M)

Turk: Individual

Filiz (F)

Turk: Young shoot

Finjân

Beduin, ar: (coffee) cup

Firdaus

Ar: Fertile Garden, Paradise

= Firdevs (turk)

Firishta

Pers: Angel

Fîrûz (F,M)

Pers: Turquoise

= Feyrouz, Feiruz, Feyruz (ar)

Fitna

Turk: (loveable) affliction

Furay (M)

Ar: Little lint

Füsun (F)

Turk: Witch

Jawad (M)

-> Ajad (who does good)

Jumaa

ar: Friday

= F: Jummai (hausa)

= M: Danjuma (hausa)

Karim (M)

ar: Generous

-> Akram (the most generous) 

Khamîs

ar: Thursday

= M: Danlami (hausa)

= F: Khamees, Khamisa (hausa)

Khayal (F)

Ar: thought

= Khayaal (kashm)

Muhammad

= Ahmed (swahili)

Najib (M)

Ar: of good stock

-> Negib

Nassib (M)

Ar: of noble descent

Ola (F)

ar: height, elevation

= Alaa

Sabt

ar: Saturday

= F: Asabe (hausa)

= M: Danasabe (hausa)

Saleh (M)

Ar: upright

Salim (M)

Ar: sound

-> Saleem

Talata

ar thulatha'=Tuesday

= F: Talatu (hausa)

Tanayn

ar: Monday

= F: Lantana (hausa)

Urbaa ('ur-b3a)

ar: Wednesday

= M: Balarabe (hausa)

= F: Balaraba, Laraba, Larai (hausa)

Wadad (F)

Ar: Love

-> Tawaddud

Wael (M)

Ar: Who turns around (towards God)

Wafiy/Wafiyya

Ar: Loyal

-> F: Wafa' (loyalty)

Wahib/Wahiba

Ar: (generous) donator

Wajih (M)

Ar: Distinguished, notable

Walid (M)

Ar: Newborn

Wasama (M)

Ar: beauty of the face

-> Wasim, Wissam, Wasmâ' (beautiful of face)

Yaamur (M)

Ar: He Prospers

Yabqa (M)

Ar: He Remains

Yağmur (F)

Turk: Rain

-> Yaghmur

Yaïsh (M)

Ar: He Lives

-> Yaeesh, Ya3eesh

Yamout (M)

Ar: he dies (name to fool the evil spirits)

-> Yamut

Yaqout

Ar: Ruby

-> Yaqut, Ya3qut

Yasar (yâshâr)

Turk: He Lives

-> Yashar

Yasmine (F)

Ar: jasmine

-> Yasmeen, Yasmina

= Jasmine (eng), Jasmin (fin), Yasemin (turk)

Yavuz (M)

Turk: Stern (nickname of sultan Selim I)

Yazid (M)

Ar: He Increases

Yegâne

Pers: Unique

Yener (M)

Turk: He Vainquishes

Yeter (F)

Turk: Enough! (daughters)

Yigit (yighit) (M)

Turk: Brave

-> Yighit

Yildirim (M)

Turk: thunderbolt

Yildîz (F)

Turk: Stars

Yilmaz (M)

Turk: Who does not give in/way

Yonca (F)

Turk: Clover

Yusra (F)

Ar: Prosperity, Wealth

-> Yasîr, Yaseer, Yusri/Yusriyya (rich, well off)

Zâfar (M)

Ar: Victory

Zahra (F)

Ar: Flower / Radiant

-> Azhâr (flowers), Zâher/Zâhera (blossoming, radiant), Zuhra (planet Venus), Zuhayr/Zuhayra (little flower)

-> Zara

Zaibunissa (F)

India; Muslim name from pers: Woman of Beauty, eldest daughter of Mongolian emperor Aurangzeb

Zaki/Zakiya

Ar: intelligent, Virtuous

= Zeki (turk)

Zamr (M)

Ar: thought

-> Zamer

Zamzama (F)

Ar: Whisper; Zamzam is a spring in Mecca.

Zarina (F)

India; Muslim name from pers: Golden

Zarsitti (F)

Ar sitti from sayyidati=lady, pers zar=gold: Golden Lady

Zawiya

Ar: a Sufi's cell

Zeid (M)

Ar, maybe Increase, one of Muhammad's first converts

Zeidân (M)

Ar: one who has increased, grown

= Zidane (fr)

Zeinab (F)

Ar: a beautiful and sweet-smelling plant, daughter of Muhammad

-> Zaynab

Zeyneddine (M)

ar: ornament of the Faith

-> Zeineddine

= Zinedine (fra)

Ziad (M)

Ar: Growth

Zibâlah (F)

Egypt, ar: Trash (to keep the djinns at bay)

Ziya (M)

Turk: Light

Ziyarat

Ar: Visit (commemoratign the visit of a holy place)

Zubdat (F)

Ar: cream

Zubaida (F)

Ar: Marigold

= Zoubida (fr)

Compiled by Joumana Medlej.