As modern technology, international travel and cross-cultural business deals rapidly are making our world a smaller place, we find ourselves coming into contact much more frequently with people of other cultures. Learning a new and foreign sounding name often presents a challenge. Arabic names are sometimes difficult for the unaccustomed ear because of their strong consonants and guttural intonations.

Most Arabic names have unique and beautiful meanings. For example, the name "Muhammad," which is the most widely-used first name in the world, means "revered." Below is an alphabetical list of some of the most popular Arabic and Islamic names and their meanings.

Abdullah				Muhammad
		Men's Names
Abdul Aziz		Fouad		Omar
Servant of the Powerful One		Heart		Long life, first son, most high
Abdullah		Habib		Rafiq
Servant of God		Beloved		Kind, friend
Abdul Rahman		Hani		Sa'id
Servant of the Merciful One		Happy, delighted, content		Happy
Adel		Hassan		Saleh
Just		Beautiful		Good, right
Ahmad		Hisham		Salim
Most highly adored or most praised		Generosity		Safe, whole, flawless
Ali		Hussein		Samir
The greatest, excellent, noble		Little beauty		Entertaining companion
Amin		Ibrahim		Saud
Faithful, trustworthy		Arabic form of "Abraham"; Father of a multitude		Fortunate
Bassam		Imad		Suhail
Smiling		Support, pillar		Gentle, easy; the name of a star
Fahd		Kareem		Tariq
Lynx		Generous, noble, friendly		Name of a star
Faisal		Khalid		Tawfiq
Decisive		Eternal		Success, reconciliation
Farid		Khalil		Waleed
Unique		Good friend		Newborn
Faris		Malik		Youssef
Horseman, knight		Master, angel, king		Arabic form of "Joseph"; to increase in power and influence
		Nabil		Ziyad
		Noble		Super abundance

		Women's Names
Habib		Aliah		Leila		Ibrahim
		Exalted, noble, highest social standing		(Born at) night
		Amal		Lina
		Hopes, aspirations		Tender
		Aminah		Maryam or Mariam
		Trustworthy, faithful		Arabic form of Mary
Saud		Ayishah		Mona		Latifah
		Living, prosperous		Wish, desire
		Farah		Nada
		Joy		Generosity, dew
		Fatimah		Nawal
		Daughter of the Prophet		Gift
Khadijah		Ghadah		Nuha		Jamilah
		Beautiful		Intelligence
		Haifa		Noor
		Slender, of beautiful body		Light
		Hanan		Rana
		Mercy		To gaze, look
Fatimah		Hooda		Reem		Leila
		Right guidance		Gazelle
		Iman		Ruqayyah
		Faith, belief		Gentle
		Jamilah		Salma
		Beautiful, graceful, lovely		Peaceful
		Janan		Samira
		Heart, soul		Entertaining companion
		Johara		Sana'
		Jewel		Resplendence, brilliance; to gaze or look
Kareem		Jumanah		Suha		Tariq
		Silver pearl		Name of a star
		Khadijah		Warda
		First wife of the Prophet		Rose
		Khulud		Widad
		Immortality		Love, friendship
		Latifah		Yasmine
		Gentle, kind, pleasant		Jasmine