An Arabic male name derived from the verb ʿazza (عزّ) meaning “to be mighty, strong, honored.”
In Islam, al-Muʿizz (ٱلْمُعِزّ) — “The Bestower of Honor” — is one of the 99 Names of Allah.
The most notable bearer is al-Muʿizz li-Dīn Allāh (953 – 975 CE), the fourth Fatimid caliph, renowned for founding the city of Cairo (al-Qāhira) in 969 CE.
It is used throughout the Islamic world, but is particularly common among Muslims in Nigeria.
The name comes directly from the Arabic word نُعْمان (nu’man), which is a poetic term describing “blood” as in a type of blood that brings vitality and beauty. It is also the word for the colour crimson and the anemone flower. It is ultimately from the root n–ʿ–m (ن ع م), which shares the same root with Naim نعم (comfort, tranquility, luxury, ease).
Numan ibn al-Munḏir (d. 602 CE) was one of the last Lakhmid kings of al-Ḥīrah, a pre-Islamic Arab Christian kingdom in southern Iraq. He is remembered in Arabic literature for his eloquence and patronage of poets.
In early Islamic history, Numan ibn Bashir al-Ansari (d. 684 CE) was a Companion of the Prophet Muḥammad and a prominent figure in the first Islamic century.
In Islamic tradition it specifically refers to a sword with a split or notched blade—the legendary weapon given by the Prophet Muhammad to his cousin and son-in-law ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib.
It possibly comes from classical Arabic compound dhū / dhu (ذو) (possessor of; one who has), and fiqār / fiqar (فقار) (spine; vertebrae). Other sources suggest the second element may relate to the stars of Orion’s belt.
The phrase literally means “the one with the notches” or “owner of the notched spine.”
Both names come from the Arabic root ṣ-d-q (ص د ق), which carries the sense of truth, sincerity, honesty, faithfulness.
Siddīq (masculine) literally means “truthful, sincere, completely trustworthy.”
Siddīqa (feminine) is the direct feminine form.
In Islamic tradition the title al-Ṣiddīq was famously given to Abu Bakr, the first caliph and closest companion of the Prophet Muhammad, highlighting his absolute honesty and faith. The feminine al-Ṣiddīqa is used honorifically for Mary (Maryam) in the Qur’an (5:75) and also for Fāṭimah, the daughter of the Prophet, in later Islamic literature.
Suhail or sometimes transliterated as Suhayl, is derived from the Arabic word سَھْل (sahl) meaning “level; even; smooth, easy.” It is the Arabic name of the second brightest star known in the western world as Canopus. It’s appearance in the skies have traditionally been linked with the end of summer in the Arab world. It is the name of a few other stars.
It was also borne by one of the contemporaries of the Prophet Mohammed, known as Suhayl ibn ʿAmr (6th-century C.E).
Suhail appeared in the U.K. Top 1000 between 1996-2002, peaking at #694 in 1997. Its Urdu form of Sohail appeared in the U.K. Top 1000 between 1996-2007 and peaked at #305 in 1997.
Usage: Arabic-speaking world, most of the Islamic world
Gender: Female
Meaning: “little butterball.”
The name is derived from the Arabic rootز-ب- د (z-b-d), which pertains to “cream, foam, butter,” along with the Arabic feminine diminutive suffix, roughly translating to “little cream” or “little butter,” having the same sense as “cream of the crop.”
This was the sobriquet of Zubaidah bint Ja’far (766–831), the wife of Harun al-Rashid. Borne as Sukhainah or Amat al-‘Aziz, she was known for her construction of wells and reservoirs along the pilgramage routes to Mecca and is featured in The Thousand and One Nights. Her life was later the inspiration behind the character of Zobeide in the German opera Abu Hassan by Carl Maria von Weber.
The Turkish form of the name, Zübeyde, was borne by an Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Ahmed II, who lived from 1728 to 1756. It was also carried by Zübeyde Hanım (1856–1923), the mother of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The name appeared in the Top 100 most popular female names in Turkey between 1980 and 1986, peaking at #70 in 1981
The name comes directly from the Arabic جبّار (jabbar), meaning “mighty; powerful.” In Islam, the term الجبّار (al-jabbar) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Another variation is Abd-al-Jabbar (عبد الجبار), meaning “servant of the Almighty.”
Jabbar has appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 Most Popular Male Names in 1972, coming in as the 910th most popular male name. Its Swahili form of Jabari became common in the African-American community in the 1970s. It is currently the 920th most popular male name in the United States.
The name comes directly from the Arabic word for forenoon or late morning. In Islam, it is used in reference to Salat ad-Duha صَلَاة الضحى, a voluntary prayer that is said between Fajr and Dhuhr and is used mainly for the atonement of sins.
It is also the name of the 93rd chapter in the Qu’ran, al-Ḍuḥā الضحى, (the Morning).
As a given-name, it is traditionally unisex, but has been more often bestowed on females.
