Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “voluntary submission to God.”
(IS-lahm)
The name comes from the Arabic verbal noun meaning, “obedience, subjugation of someone or something, or the voluntary submissal to the Almighty.”
The name is technically unisex, but is more often used for males throughout the Islamic world.
As of 2010, Islam was the 14th most popular male name in Kazakhstan, (2010).
It is borne by the current president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov (b.1938).
Gender: Masculine
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “city.”
(meh-DEE-nah)
The name comes from the name of a city in Saudi Arabia known fully as المدينة المنورة, al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, “the radiant city.”
It is considered the second holiest city in Islam and is the burial place of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. As a result, the name has been used as a feminine name throughout the Islamic world.
Currently, Madinah (Kazakh) is the 7th most popular female name in Kazakhstan, (2010) while Medina is the 17th most popular in Turkey (2010) and Medina is the 42nd most popular in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010).
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic مراد
Meaning: “wish; desire.”
(MOO-rahd)
The name is derived from the Arabic meaning, “wish; desire.”
It is currently the 5th most popular male name among babies born in Azerbaijan, (2011).
Other forms of the name include:
It was borne by at least 5 Turkish Sultans.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Persian
Meaning: “melody; music.”
(tuh-RAH-nuh)
The name is derived from an Old Persian source meaning, “music; melody.”
As of 2010, it was the 10th most popular name among the general female population in Azerbaijan.
It is sometimes transliterated as Tarana and in this case is the name of a is a type of composition in Hindustani classical vocal music.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic Катхар
Meaning: “abundance.”
The name is derived from the Arabic word for abundance, it is also the name of the shortest sura in the Qu’ran known as the al-Kawthar.
It is currently the 2nd most popular female name in Kazakhstan, (2010).
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Persian Арман Արման
(AHR-mahn)
The name is most likely derived from an Old Persian male name meaning “ideal, wish; aspiration” or “destination.”
It has entered several Central Asian languages and in Kazakh it refers to “dream; hope” and is used as a male given name.
In Armenia, it is the 5th most popular male name and it is often argued to be derived from the ancient Armenian root ar (sun) or (Armenian man), however, it is most likely a borrowing from the Persian.
It is currently the 29th most popular male name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic زهراء , زهرة ,
Meaning: “bright; shining; brilliant” or “flower blossom.”
The name could either be from the Arabic زهراء (bright; shining; brilliant). This was used as an epithet for the prophet Mohammed’s daughter, Fatima.
Another possible derivative is that it is from the Arabic زهرة (flower blossom).
Currently, Zahra is the most popular female name in Azerbaijan (2010). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:
Other forms include:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic فاطمة
Meaning: “to abstain.”
Sp (FAH-tee-mah); Arab (FAH-TEE-MAH)
The name comes Arabic meaning “to abstain.”
It is an extremely popular name throughout the Islamic world, and is especially popular among Shia Muslims. It was borne by the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed, who was also known as Fatima Zahra (Fatima the Illustrious).
Among Muslims, she is revered as an exemplar among women.
The name is also used among Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Christians in reference to a shrine in Portugal in which the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared. The name shares the same etymology as the town was named for a Moorish princess who converted to Christianity and was subsequently persecuted by her family.
Currently, its Turkic form of Fatma is the 3rd most popular female name in Azerbaijan, (2010). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Meaning: “grace.”
(ANN; AHN). (ANN-uh; AHN-nah). (HANN-uh; HAHN-nah)
Anne is possibly one of the quintessential classic English and French female names. Prior to the 18th-century, it seems that every other girl born in England was either named Anne, Jane or Mary. There were several British and French queens who bore this simplistic moniker, including the ill fated Anne Boleyn, the mother of Elizabeth I. The history of Anne is rather long and complicated.
It was foremost popularized through the cult of St. Anne, a legendary figure who was said to be the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Christ.
In Brittany, the name became especially popular because it happened to coincide with the name of an ancient Celtic goddess, her cult being replaced by St. Anne’s. In fact, it was borne by one Breton Princess, Anne of Brittany.
The name was introduced into Britain by the French-Normans after the invasion in 1066. Previously, there had been a minor Saxon king named Anna, but in this case the name is related to the Saxon arn (eagle). Anna and Anne are still occasionally used as male given names in Friesland.
Other than the apocryphal saint, the name Anne can be traced directly back to the Bible. In the New Testament, it is the name of a prophetess who predicts the Crucifixion of Christ.
Anna (Αννα), is the Greek translation of the early Hebrew Channah חַנָּה, usually transliterated as Hannah, meaning “grace.”
Hannah is borne in the Old Testament by the faithful mother of the prophet, Samuel.
Hannah has always been popular among Jewish families, but was virtually unheard of among non-Jews before the Reformation, except in some cases where it may have been used as a diminutive form of Johanna, spelled Hanna.
It was the Byzantines who had introduced the Anna form to the world, making it popular throughout Eastern and Southern Europe. It was a very popular name among the Byzantine royal family and it was borne by the majestic Anna of Byzantium.
Anna may be the more melodic form of the bunch, but Anne’s minimalistic qualities are charming. Short, to the point, no frills. It’s not a bad name, though it does lack some spice, which is why parents are probably more attracted to its more exotic alternatives. In fact, Anne only comes in at # 608 in the top 1000 female names of the United States. It is safe to say, however, that she is very much loved in the middle name spot.
Anna is currently one of the most popular female names in Europe and abroad. Her rankings are as follows:
Of course, how could we ever forget the popular diminutive forms of Annie and Nan.