About this Muslim Names directory
Choosing a name is one of the first and most lasting gifts a parent can offer a child. In Islamic tradition, names carry meaning, history, and a quiet duʿa — a hope for who the child will grow up to be. This page is a searchable directory of Muslim baby names compiled from classical Arabic, Quranic, and South Asian sources, with English transliteration, Arabic script, and Urdu spelling for every entry where available.
Use the filter chips above to narrow by boys, girls, or unisex names, jump to a letter on the A–Z strip, or type a few letters of a name or meaning into the search box. Every result links to a dedicated page with the full meaning, alternate spellings, and related names you might like.
How to choose a Muslim name
Islamic scholars across centuries have offered guidance on naming, and most of it comes down to a small set of principles:
- Pick a name with a beautiful meaning. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said the most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman, and to have changed names with harsh meanings to gentler ones.
- Prefer names of the Prophets and the righteous. Names like Ibrahim, Yusuf, Maryam, Aisha, and Fatimah carry a long lineage of love and reverence.
- Avoid names of false deities or names exclusive to Allah. Names like Rahman or Khaliq on their own are reserved — the prefixed form (Abdur-Rahman, Abdul-Khaliq) is the traditional way to use them.
- Listen to the sound. A name is heard far more often than it is read. Try it out loud, with your family name, in a child’s voice.
Names in English, Arabic, and Urdu
Many of the names you’ll find here have multiple accepted spellings — Muhammad and Mohammad, Aisha and Ayesha, Fatima and Fatimah — all referring to the same Arabic root. We list the most common English transliteration, the original Arabic spelling for accuracy, and the Urdu rendering used across Pakistan and parts of India, so you can use the form that feels most natural for your family.
If a meaning isn’t showing for a particular name yet, it’s on our list to fill in — the directory is curated continuously.
Popular categories
Looking for inspiration? A few of the most-loved threads in our collection:
- Names from the Quran — prophets, righteous figures, and attributes mentioned in the holy text.
- Names of the Sahaba and the Sahabiyat — companions of the Prophet ﷺ whose lives have inspired generations.
- Modern Muslim names — shorter, easier to pronounce internationally, while still rooted in Islamic tradition.
- Unisex Islamic names — names that work beautifully for either a boy or a girl.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a name “Islamic”?
Any name with a good, dignified meaning is acceptable in Islam — it doesn’t have to be Arabic. Names from Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and other Muslim cultures are equally valid as long as the meaning is wholesome.
Can I name my child after a non-Muslim figure?
Names themselves are usually neutral. What matters is the meaning and whether the name carries associations with disbelief, idolatry, or something harmful. Many traditional Arabic names predate Islam and were retained by the Prophet ﷺ for that reason.
Is it required to give the child an Arabic name?
No. Many of the Prophet’s ﷺ own companions had non-Arabic names. The emphasis is on a name with a good meaning that the child will be proud to carry.
What’s the etiquette around announcing the name?
The traditional Sunnah is the ʿaqīqah on the seventh day after birth — when the head is shaved, an animal is sacrificed in gratitude, and the name is formally announced to family and community.
Discover more
Click any name in the grid above to open its full page, including the Arabic and Urdu spelling, the complete meaning, related names you might like, and quick navigation to the previous and next name. If you can’t find a name you’re looking for, drop us a note — we’ll add it to the directory.
