The Arabic surnames come from the place, tribe, clan, or region the family originated from. They are also influenced by the minority the family belongs to. Most Arabic last names start with Al-, which basically means, The-. Example: Al-Saud, i.e., The Saud family.
In some Arabic speaking nations like Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, the surnames originate from the profession or business that runs in the family. Example: Al Tajir, i.e., The Merchant.
Interesting enough to go deep into the surnames in this region? In this post, MomJunction has put together 100 Arabic last names along with their meaning and origin.
Popular Arabic Last Names Or Family Names
1. Abadi:
The surname Abadi runs in the families whose ancestors belonged to the Abbad tribe. It means ‘endless’, ‘eternal’.
2. Abdallah:
The surname Abdallah translates to ‘Servant of God’ in Arabic. Abd stands for servant, and Allah stands for God.
3. Ahmad:
The name in Arabic is translated to ‘the praised one’.
4. Ali:
The surname Ali means someone ‘high’, ‘lofty’, or a ‘champion’. It was also the name of the fourth caliph of the Islamic world.
5. Amin:
The surname means ‘the truthful’ or ‘trustworthy’. The name is usually prefixed with Al, i.e., Al-Amin.
6. Asghar:
The name Asghar is derived from Azhar, which means ‘shining’, ‘radiance’, ‘luminosity’, ‘clarity’ or ‘brilliance’.
7. Ayad:
The surname Ayad means ‘the hands with power’. The name signifies the blessings, and the power to achieve things in life.
8. Aziz:
The surname Aziz in Arabic means ‘the dearest one’. It is often associated with the servant of God who is the dearest, the most precious and devoted. In Hebrew, the name means ‘might’, ‘strength’ and ‘power’.
9. Badawi:
The last name Badawi is given to children born in the Bedouin tribe. Bedouin are a group of ethnic Arab tribes and clans who live in the desert. Badawi means ‘desert dweller’.
10. Baghdadi:
This last name runs in the families who originated from the city of Baghdad in Iraq. One of the meanings of Baghdad is ‘bestowed by God’.
11. Bakir:
In Arabic, Bakir means ‘dawn’, ‘early’ or ‘something that happens before the time’.
12. Bashar:
Bashar stands for ‘the bringer of good tidings’.
13. Bilal:
This last name signifies ‘moistness’ or the ‘flow of water’. It also means ‘the victorious one’.
14. Burhan:
The last name Burhan is an adjective in Arabic used to describe one of the many qualities of Prophet Muhammed. The name means ‘the one with the proof’ or the ‘knowledgeable one’.
15. Darwish:
The name Darwish has many meanings in different cultures – Arab, Persian, Hewbrew, etc. Darwish means ‘roaming’, ‘exploring’ or ‘wandering’.
16. Dawoud:
Dawoud originated from Hebrew and is an Arabic variation of the English name David. The name is mentioned in the Quran and means ‘a beloved friend’.
17. Ebeid:
Ebeid is also pronounced as Ubayd. It means ‘the devoted servant of God’ or the ‘worshipper of God’.
18. Fadel:
The surname means ‘virtue’ or ‘someone gracious and divine’.
19. Faez:
Faez means ‘victory’. The name is derived from another name Faza, which means ‘the successful and victorious one’.
20. Faheem:
The surname is masculine in nature and means ‘perceptive’ or ‘intelligent’. The name is mentioned in the Quran as Fahm, which means ‘understanding’.
21. Faizan:
Faizan can be spelt in multiple ways. However, in Arabic, the name means ‘the generous one’ or ‘the ruler’.
22. Farhat:
The name Farhat has several meanings in different cultures. The name is commonly found in Arab communities originating from Persia. In Arabic, the name means ‘splendor’ and ‘status’.
23. Farouq:
Farouq means ‘the redeemer’ or ‘the one who differentiates between the right and wrong’. The surname is often related to families who are the descendants of Umar ib’n al-Khattab, the fourth caliph of the Islamic world.
24. Farsi:
The surname is given to children whose families originated from the country of Persia. Farsi means ‘the Persian’.
25. Fasih:
The surname Fasih in Arabic means ‘eloquence’. The name is prefixed with Al, i.e., Al-Fasih, which stands for ‘the eloquent one’.
26. Fasil:
It means ‘the distinguishing’ or ‘the unique one’. It is often prefixed with Al, i.e., Al-Fasil.
27. Fayed:
The surname Fayed in Arabic means ‘the winner’ or ‘the benefiter’.
28. Gaddafi:
The surname originated from the Libyan Berber tribe called Qadhadhfa. The name means ‘the archer’ or ‘the thrower’.
29. Ghazali:
The last name Ghazali personifies a ‘philosopher’, ‘saint’ or a ‘mystic person’.
30. Ghazawwi:
The surname is usually given to people belonging to the families originating from the city of Gaza in Palestine. It means, ‘the one from Gaza’.
31. Ghulam:
Ghulam is a common name in many languages and cultures. The name means the ‘young servant of god’. It signifies devotion to god.
32. Habib:
It means ‘beloved’ or ‘friend’. The last name is often used as an honorary title for someone who is respectable. It is a popular surname in the Arab world.
33. Hadi:
The name Hadi is derived from one of the 99 names of Allah, Hidayah. The name means the ‘guide to righteousness’.
34. Hadid:
The meaning of the surname is ‘iron’. The patronymic name is attached with Al to form a surname, i.e., Al Hadid.
35. Hafeez:
The name Hafeez means ‘the guardian’ or ‘the protector’.
36. Hakim:
It means ‘the healer’ or ‘the doctor’. The name originated from the Arabic title given to doctors and physicians during the middle ages. It is also given to people whose family profession is healing.
37. Hamdi:
The surname means ‘praiseworthy’. The name is the Quranic term for persons highly praised by Allah.
38. Hariri:
The surname is given in families whose profession involves manufacturing and trading silk. The name is extracted from the word Harir, which means ‘silk’.
39. Hashim:
The surname is derived from Prophet Mohammed’s great-grandfather. He had the habit of crushing bread before distributing it among the pilgrims. Hence, Hashim means ‘the crusher of bread’.
40. Hasnawi:
The surname is also spelled as Hasnaoui. The name often runs in families from Algeria.
41. Hatem:
Hatem is also spelled as Hatim. It means ‘decisive’ and ‘determined’. The name is very popular in the Arab Muslim world.
42. Hijazi:
The surname Hijazi runs in families who originated from the Hejaz region in Saudi Arabia. It means ‘the one from Hejaz’.
43. Hussein:
Hussein was the name of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, the son of Fatimah and Ali (the fourth caliph of the Islamic World). It means ‘to be handsome or beautiful’.
44. Ibrahim:
The surname originated from one of the prophets of Islam, Prophet Ibrahim. The name means, ‘the father of all’ or ‘the exalted father’.
45. Iqbal:
This popular last name means ‘one with strength’ in Arabic. Several well-known scholars, poets, politicians, and intellectuals have this name.
46. Irfan:
Irfan means ‘the one filled with knowledge’. It also means ‘awareness’ and ‘constant learning’.
47. Isa:
Isa is an Arabic variant of Jesus and Yasu (Judaism). Isa was one of the prophets who came before Prophet Mohammed. The name means ‘ice’ or ‘iron’.
48. Ismat:
The name signifies ‘purity’, ‘chastity’, ‘innocence’, ‘perfection’, ‘flawlessness’ and ‘impeccability’.
49. Issawi:
Issawi means ‘soft’, ‘gentle’ and ‘tender’.
50. Jabal:
This last name refers to ‘great height’. Jabal is often associated with a mountain.
51. Jabir:
The name has several spellings – Geber, Gabir, Jaber, etc. Jabir means, ‘the comforter’.
52. Jalal:
The surname appears in the Quran often to describe the greatness of Allah. The name means ‘might’, ‘strength’, ‘power’, ‘glory’ and ‘superiority’.
53. Jameel:
Jameel means ‘handsome’ and ‘beautiful’.
54. Jawahir:
The last name refers to ‘jewelry’, ‘precious stones’, ‘gold’, and ‘precious metals’.
55. Jaziri:
It means ‘self-confidence’ and ‘independence’. The surname personifies a positive and practical personality.
56. Kader:
The surname refers to someone who is ‘capable’. It also means ‘powerful’ and ‘ambitious’.
57. Karim:
This surname is also a given name. It means ‘the generous’ and ‘the noble’. It is also one of the 99 names of Allah.
58. Kashif:
This last name means the person who discovers, reveals, pioneers or uncovers. The name signifies observance, intellect, and sharpness.
59. Kassab:
Kassab refers to the bread-winner or earner of the family.
60. Kazem:
The name Kazem has different pronunciations and spellings. The name signifies ‘control over anger’.
61. Khalid:
The surname Khalid is also a popular given name for boys. It means ‘eternal’ in Arabic.
62. Laghmani:
It means the ‘one born at nightfall’. The surname also signifies peace and silence.
63. Maalouf:
Maalouf is derived from another word Maayuf, which means the ‘one who stands out in the crowd’ or ‘left out’.
64. Maamoun:
The last name refers to a person notable for their trustworthiness and honesty.
65. Mohammed:
The last name Muhammed comes from the last prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammed. The name means ‘praise-worthiness’, and ‘laudability’.
66. Mahmud:
This Arabic surname is derived from the name Muhammed.
67. Marwan:
Marwan is derived from the stone Marou, which was used to start a fire in ancient times. The name also signifies ‘leadership and strength’.
68. Mufti:
In Arabic, Mufti refers to a ‘legal advisor’ or ‘counselor’. The name originated from the Arabic title given to legal advisors back in the middle ages.
69. Mughrabi:
This surname runs in families who speak Magrabi Arabic. The language is spoken by the arab-berber tribes.
70. Mustafa:
The name Mustafa is one of the many names given to Prophet Muhammed. The name means ‘the chosen one’ or ‘the appointed one’.
71. Nabih:
The name means ‘being aware and vigilant’. It also signifies ‘honor’.
72. Nader:
The surname means ‘exceptional’, ‘extraordinary’, ‘unique’ or ‘rarity’.
73. Nagi:
The name Nagi or Naji was actually given to Prophet Muhammed for his devotion to Allah. He was called the friend of Allah. Nagi means the ‘closest friend’ in Arabic.
74. Nahdi:
Nahdi is a common surname in the Arab world. It means ‘a strong tree’ in Arabic.
75. Najdi:
The surname Najdi runs in families who originated in the Najd region in Arabia.
76. Najm:
Najm means ‘star’.
77. Najjar:
This surname is derived from the profession of carpentry. Al-Najjar means ‘the carpenter’.
78. Noor:
Noor means ‘divinity’ or ‘light’. It also personifies outward and inward beauty gained from devotion to god.
79. Osman:
Osman means the ‘devoted servant of God’. The name is popular in the Arabic and Urdu speaking countries.
80. Qadir:
The name Qadir means ‘competent’, ‘powerful’ or ‘capable’.
81. Qasim:
Qasim is one of the epithets of Prophet Muhammed. The name means ‘the one who distributes’. It can be associated with kindness and charity.
82. Qureshi:
The surname is derived from the tribe of Quraish in Makkah in the era of Prophet Muhammed. The Quraish tribe included rich and prosperous businessmen. The last name is given to the descendants of the tribe.
83. Rafiq:
Rafiq means a ‘close friend’ ‘companion’ or a ‘follower of God’.
84. Rahim:
One of the 99 names of Allah, Rahim means ‘the merciful’ or ‘the forgiving’.
85. Rajab:
Derived from the Islamic calendar, Rajab is the seventh month in the calendar and means ‘to respect’.
86. Ramzan:
Ramzan or Ramadan is derived from the Islamic calendar and means ‘to be alive’. The month of Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims.
87. Ramzi:
The surname means ‘quiet’, ‘reserved’ or ‘demure’. The name also means a ‘sign’ given by Allah.
88. Rashid:
This, again, is one of the 99 names of Allah. The name signifies ‘right direction’ and ‘truth’.
89. Reza:
The last name Reza means the ‘approval of Allah’. It means that God is content and pleased with the actions and decisions of the followers. The name is most commonly used by the Shia Muslims.
90. Sader:
The name Sader in Arabic means ‘broad-chested’, ‘strength’, ‘courage’ or ‘fore-fronted’.
91. Sajjad:
Sajjad refers to the ‘devoted worshipper of Allah’.
92. Shariq:
The surname means the ‘bright shining star’ or ‘a person of exemplary character’. It also means a ‘devoted companion’.
93. Saqqaf:
In Arabic, Saqqaf means ‘cleverness’ or ‘intelligence’.
94. Sultan
This surname is so common that everyone hears it at some point in their lives. Sultan is a title given to the rulers. It means ‘highness’ or ‘the ruler.’
95. Taleb:
Taleb was the name of an uncle of Prophet Muhammed. The surname means a ‘devoted student’ or ‘a seeker of knowledge’.
96. Tawfiq:
The name means an opportunity or chance to gain knowledge or succeed in life.
97. Wahed:
Wahed is one of the 99 names of Allah. The name means ‘the only one’. It also translates to number one in Arabic.
98. Yasin:
Yasin is one of the chapters in the Holy Quran. The name means ‘wealth’ or ‘richness’.
99. Yusuf:
Yusuf is a common Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic name. The name means ‘god increases’ the strength, power, influence and devotion.
100. Zaman:
This name refers to ‘a person of the era, times or age’.
Every Arabic surname has a unique origin and meaning behind it. You can explore different names and learn about Arabian culture.
If you know of some more popular Arabic surnames or you are an Arab, then do share your surname and its meaning in the comments section below.