Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “worker.”
(AH-MEEL)
The name is derived from the Arabic اّجير (al’emal) meaning, “worker.” The name shares the same etymology with the Biblical Hebrew male name, Amal.
As of 2010, Amil was the 98th most popular male name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Feminine form is Amila, which is the 12th most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010).
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic حسن
Meaning: “the handsome; the good.”
The name is derived from the Arabic noun plus definite article الحسن (al-Ḥasan) literally meaning, “the good, the handsome, the beautiful.”
The name was borne by one of the beloved grandsons of the Prophet Mohammed and the son of Ali.
According to Shia and Sunni sources the Archangel Gabriel commanded the Propheth Mohammed to name his grandson, Hasan, a pre-Islamic name. Hasan eventually went on to succeed his father as the Caliph and eventually retired to Madinah where he was poisoned by one of his wives, (the identity of whom is somewhat debated). He is considered a martyr by both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims.
It was the 24th most popular male name in Turkey, (2010) and the 94th most popular in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010).
The name is sometimes transliterated as Hassan, especially in the former French colonies, however, this transliteration is actually incorrect as when an extra S is added, the meaning of the name changes, being from the Arabic حسّان Hassan meaning, “doer of good.”
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic ملك
Meaning: “king.”
(MAH-LEEK)
The name is derived from the Arabic word ملك (malik) meaning, “king, chieftain.”
The same word appears in several Semitic languages, including Hebrew, in the form of Melek מֶלֶך. In the Old Testament, Melech is the name of a son of Micah.
In the Arabic-speaking world, this is the general term used to refer to a king or chieftain. It also a common male name among both Muslims and Middle Eastern Christians, usually used in reference to the term Al-Malik which means, “the king” an epithet for God among both Muslims and Christians.
The word also appears in the Armenian language in the form of Melik Մելիկ, which is also used a masculine given name, often shortened to Melo.
As of 2010, Malik was the 99th most popular male name in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010). His rankings in other countries are as follows:
A feminine form is Malika.
Gender: Masculine
Origin: South Slavic
(AH-dees)
The name was originally a South Slavic diminutive form of Adam, compare to the Polish diminutive of Adaś. It is now used as an independent given name.
As of 2010, Adis was the 89th most popular male name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic أنيسة
Meaning: “young lady.”
(ah-NEE-sah)
The name is most likely derived from آنسة (anisah), meaning, “young lady.”
Its Bosnian form of Anesa is currently the 75th most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzgovina, (2010).
Gender: Feminine
Origin: South Slavic Нађа
(NAHD-jah)
The name was originally a South Slavic and Czech diminutive form of Nadezhda, but is now used as an independent given name in the former Yugoslav Republic.
As of 2010, Nađa was the 80th most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “basil; scented herb; myrtle.”
(ray-HAH-nah)
The name is derived from the Arabic نبات من , (al-rayhan), meaning “basil.” The word itself is derived from the Arabic element, رائحة (riha) meaning, “odor; fragrance; or myrtle.” This element has entered into several Semitic, Indo-Iranian and Central Asian languages either interchangeably meaning “basil”, “myrtle” or “scented herb.”
Its Arabic form of Rayhana was borne by one of the wives of the Prophet Mohammed. Rayhana was a Jewish woman of dubious origins. Not much is known about her, it is believed that she eventually divorced the prophet and went back to live with her people, other sources suggest that she at first stubbornly refused to convert to Islam but eventually complied.
The word also appears in the Qur’an in Sura Ar-Rahman (the “scented herb” in Ayah no 12) and Sura Al-Waqiah (Ayah no 89).
Its Bosnian form of Rejhana is currently the 91st most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010) and its Maltese form of Rihanna, which is derived from the Maltese word for the common Myrtle, Riħan, is the 10th most popular female name in Malta, (2010)
Other forms of the name include:
The name is of a few different etymologies. It could be from the Arabic adjective امغر (asemr) which means, “tan” or “darkish-skin.” It could also be a variant transliteration of the Arabic female name, Samira.
The name is also a popular Ethiopian female name, its origin may be traced either to the Arabic or it could be an Amharic form of the Biblical city name, Samara.
The name is borne by an Ethiopian Orthodox saint, known as Christos Samra; a yearly festival is held in her honour. Many legends have been attributed to her, one of the most curious being that she went to Hell and asked Satan if he would be willing to reconcile with God. Satan refused to reconcile and held Samra hostage in Hell. Samra was eventually rescued by the Angel Gabriel and in the process, rescued several doomed souls. It is believed that no prayer to her will go unanswered.
Another Ethiopian form is Samrawit, literally meaning, “belonging to Samra.”
As of 2010, Samra 76th most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic/Bosnian
(noo-JAY-mah)
The name is a Bosnian form of the Arabic Nedjma meaning, “star.”
As of 2010, Nudžejma was the 96th most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Bosnian Girls at a Mosque by Ayra Almeira Jasrah via Flickr
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “citizen.”
The name comes directly from the Arabic, مدني (almediny) meaning, “citizen.”
As of 2010, Almedina was the 82nd most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Masculine forms are Almedin and Elmedin.
Another form is Elmedina.