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The Muslim inhabitants of Malta in the Iberian peninsula, and a few more places were called Moors. Iberia is a peninsula in southwestern Europe and is associated with Spain and Portugal. The dominant Muslim and Christian population of the region is reflected in various architectural structures such as the Alhambra, an ornate Moorish palace in Granada, Spain. Moorish names have an Arabic touch and may sound like Muslim names but are more ancient. They do not belong to a particular ethnic group, as they share ethnicity with Africans, Berbers, and Arabs. This diversity influences the Moorish names to resemble Arabic/Muslim names. Although there are many Moorish boy names, the girl names are quite rare. Therefore, we have included some of the best Moorish names of both genders in this list. These names are unique, stylish and would make your baby stand out from others. Check them out below.
Key Pointers
- Moorish baby names usually have Arabic and African origins with Christian and Islamic influences.
- These names may have cultural and spiritual significance and primarily denote different virtues, divine grace, and religious attributes.
- Some meaningful Moorish names include Yousuf, meaning ‘God gives,’ and Halawa, meaning ‘sweetness.’
50 Beautiful Moorish Baby Names
Moorish baby names predominantly have Arabic origins, but they look different from modern Arabic names. Although there are many names in different cultures that mean ‘moor’ or ‘moorish,’ these names are not those. They represent the culture and beliefs of the Moorish people. So, read on to discover the gems on this list.
Moorish Names For Boys With Meanings
Moorish boy names reflect the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of parents and describe qualities like mercy, kindness, intelligence, eloquence, magnificence, and strength. These names also invoke God’s blessings. Read on to discover more.
1. Aban
Pronounced as Aa-baan, this name can be used for both boys and girls. It means ‘clear, lucid, or eloquent.’ It has Arabic and Persian-Iranian origin. In Persian culture, Aban or Abanagan is the tenth day of the month of October. In Islamic history, Aban ibn Sa’id was a scribe and companion of the Prophet Mohammed (1).
2. Affan
Affan is an unusual name with a great meaning. In Arabic, it means ‘chaste, pure, and modest.’ It also means a ‘forgiving person.’
3. Atiq
It’s a popular name across the Muslim countries. It has Arabic origins and means ‘old or ancient.’ It is also spelled as Ateeq, Atik, and Ateeque, and it is said to appear numerous times in the Quran.
4. Cidy
Cidy is a Moorish name for boys that originates from Castilian and Arabic. It means ‘my lord’ or ‘my master.’
5. Habib
It is also spelled as Habeeb and is usually a last name rather than a first name. This Arabic origin name means ‘beloved or one who is loved.’
6. Hamid
Hamid is an Arabic origin name that stands for ‘praiseworthy’ or ‘lauded.’ It also means ‘one who praises’. This Moorish name is said to be associated with Prophet Muhammad, as al-Hamid is one of the 99 names of Allah (2).
7. Ismail
Also spelled as Esmail or Ismael, it means ‘heard by Allah’ or ‘God will hear’. The name comes from Hebrew, where Isma means ‘hearer’ and eel means ‘God’.
8. Jabir
Jabir is a simple and sweet name for boys. In Arabic, it means ‘consoler or comforter’ and also stands for an individual who does good things. The famous namesake is the Arab philosopher and alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan (3). You could consider Gabir for a variant.
9. Khalid
In Arabic, it means ‘magnificent or everlasting.’ Its female variant is Khalida. The former king of Saudi Arabia Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz and the seventh-century military leader Khalid ibn al-Walid are the namesakes for Khalid (4) (5).
10. Galib
Also spelled Ghalib, it means ‘winner or conqueror’ in Arabic. The renowned Indian Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib is one of the most famous namesakes.
11. Maymun
This two-syllable name is pronounced as ‘May-Moon.’ Maymun has Arabic origins and means ‘blessed, thriving, fortunate, or prosperous.’
12. Mundir
It is a rare Moorish name for boys with medieval Arabic origins. It means ‘warner’ or ‘cautioner’ and originates from Al-Mundhir, meaning ‘the cautioner.’
13. Najih
It means ‘successful, prosperous, or fortunate.’ The female variant of Najih is Najiha.
Trivia14. Razin
Also spelled as Razeen, the name Razin can be used for boys and girls. It means ‘calm, dignified, subtle, or composed.’
15. Safwan
If you want a different and unusual name, Safwan is the one. It means ‘rock’ and also stands for ‘pure’ and ‘unblemished.’ It can also connote ‘a bright cloudless day.’
16. Shabib
Also spelled as Shabeeb, the name Shabib means ‘youth’ or ‘young man.’ It can also mean ‘handsome.’
17. Shahid
Shahid means ‘witness’ or ‘martyr’ in Arabic. It is also spelled as Shaheed and Ash-Shaheed is one of the 99 names of Allah (6). Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor is one of the popular bearers of this name.
18. Siraj
Siraj is indeed a noble name as it is used in the Holy Quran to refer to Prophet Muhammad and the sun. It’s used for both boys and girls. It means ‘lamp or light.’ Historically speaking, Siraj ud-Daulah was the last independent Nawab of Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar (7).
19. Talhah
Also spelled as Talha or Thalha, Talhah is the name of a companion of Prophet Muhammad. Talhah in Arabic means ‘fruitful tree from heaven.’ It can also be used for girls.
20. Ubayd
This name is Arabic for ‘faithful’ or ‘servant of God.’ It’s the name of one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad. A spelling variation of this name could be Obaidullah or Ubaydullah.
21. Wasil
Wasil is a nice and short name to have for your boy. It means ‘thoughtful,’ ‘loyal,’ ‘inseparable friend,’ or ‘one who never ignores his friends and relatives’.
22. Yucafe
This name has its origins in the Hebrew name Joseph. It’s an ancient name that means ‘God gives, or Lord gives more.’ Yosef, Yousef, Youssef, and Yusef are spelling variants to this name.
23. Zakarriyya
Zakarriyya is the Moorish form of the Hebrew name Zechariah or the Arabic name Zakariya. It means ‘Yahweh remembers’ or ‘God remembers.’
24. Zayd
If you want a short and stylish name for your boy go for Zayd. It means ‘growth, abundance, or plenty’. Zayd is among the top 800 names on the baby name charts in the US (8). It’s also spelled as Zaid.
25. Zuhayr
It’s a unique Moorish name with two syllables (zu-hayr). It means ‘sparkling, brilliant, or shining’ in Arabic. A name that sounds similar to Zuhayr is Zahara, which can act as its feminine alternative.
Moorish Names For Girls With Meanings
Moorish girl names are beautiful gems. They derive from numerous languages, from Latin and Germanic to Hebrew and Arabic. Check out these exquisite names to find the perfect one for your princess.
26. Amat
It means ‘maidservant’ in Moorish or medieval Arabic. The Catalan form of this name is Amatus, but that has a separate Latin origin meaning ‘beloved.’ Amat is also used as a last name in some cultures and has been a famous inspiration for many names.
27. Aurya
It’s an unusual name for a girl. Derived from the Latin word ‘aurum’, it means ‘golden’ or ‘gilded’ in Latin. The other variant is Auria.
28. Bahjat
This Arabic name is indeed beautiful, and it means ‘splendor,’ ‘happiness,’ or ‘joy.’ It can be considered a gender-neutral name.
29. Banafsaj
This unique Moorish name is pronounced ba-naf-sadj. It means ‘violet’ or ‘purple’ and describes the color of a flower.
Quick fact30. Baraka
Pronounced as bah-ṙah-kah, this name means ‘blessing’ in Arabic. It is the feminine counterpart of the name Barak.
31. Dhayl
It’s one of the rare and unique Moorish names for girls. It means ‘complement.’
32. Durra
Durra was the Arabic name of the ninth century Basque princess and means ‘pearl’ or ‘large pearl’ in Arabic. It is also spelled as Durrah.
33. Halawa
The name is as sweet as its meaning. If you want a name as sweet as your baby, consider Halawa, which means ‘sweetness.’ You can also choose the variant Halawah.
34. Ishraq
Your little one sure must have brought sunshine in your life and if you want to bring some sunshine into your girl’s life too, give her the name Ishraq. It means ‘sunshine,’ ‘brilliance,’ ‘illumination,’ or ‘shining.’ It can be used for both girls and boys.
35. Itr
It’s a cool name, which is most likely to get trendy too. It means ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’ in Arabic.
36. Kanza
Pronounced as kahn-zah, this name is sure to impress people. It means ‘hidden treasure’ or ‘treasure’ in Arabic and is a variant of the name Kenza.
37. Mutayyam
This is Hebrew for swarthy or dark skinned. It’s predominantly used in German and Irish. The nicknames for Maura are Mo and Maur.
38. Muzna
This name sounds very soothing and pleasant to one’s ears. It’s one of the rare girl names meaning ‘rain’ or ‘cloud.’
39. Najma
One of the most beautiful Muslim girl names, Najma, means ‘star’ in Arabic. Najm can be used as a masculine spelling variant.
40. Qasmuna
A unique Moorish girl name with Arabic origins, Qasmuna means ‘to divide’ or ‘to distribute.’ It was the name of a 12th-century Iberian Jewish poet who wrote in the Arabic language (9).
41. Rahat
This name means ‘comfort or rest’. It also means ‘peaceful.’ Rahat can be considered a unisex name.
42. Rima
Pronounced as Ree-mah, this cute name stands for ‘white antelope.’ It is also spelled as Rim or Reem. A famous namesake is Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010.
43. Salwa
This is indeed a charming Moorish name, which means ‘solace’ and ‘comfort. It also means ‘consolation.’
44. Sama
Rooted in medieval Arabic, Sama is an attractive Moorish girl name. It means ‘exalted, honored, or sky.’
45. Sukayna
Sukayna means ‘calmness’ or ‘peace’ in Arabic. Its other variants are Soukaina and Sakina.
46. Suna
Pronounced as soo-nah, it means ‘gold’ in Persian. In Turkish, however, it means ‘drake,’ ‘tall,’ or ‘beautiful.’
47. Umayma
Its Arabic variant is Umama. It’s the name of the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad and means ‘little mother’ (10).
48. Yamina
It’s derived from the Arabic word Yamin. Yamina means ‘right hand’ or ‘oath.’ It can also mean ‘suitable’ or ‘proper.’
49. Zubiya
It’s a traditional Moorish name meaning ‘God’s gift’ or ‘gazelle.’ The name has Arabic origins and may also connote ‘rich in water.’
50. Zumurrud
If you want a bright name for your girl, ‘Zumurrud’ is the one. It’s derived from Persian Zumrud and means ‘emerald.’
Moorish Last Names Or Surnames
Moorish surnames or surnames with Arabic and Berber origins are common in Spain. These surnames are usually derived from the name of the ancestors’ region. In other words, the last names of the Moors were given after the name of the place. For example, the Alarcons, the original bearers of this name, lived in the Alarcon region of Spain. The city’s conqueror adopted the name Alonso after the fall of the Moorish rule. Similarly, Amezquita is said to come from al-masgid or ‘the mosque,’ and Guadalupe comes from Wadi al-Lupus or ‘wolf valley.’ Other popular Moorish last names are Abadala, Alcazar, Cabla, Cid, Frontera, Galvan, Granada, Lucena, Padilla, and Romero (11).
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are Moorish names typically structured?
Medieval Arabic names contain many different parts and each of these components reveals specific details like the descent and origin of the person to whom the name is conferred.
2. How have Moorish names evolved over time?
Moorish names have evolved over time due to cultural and linguistic influences from different regions. Modern names mostly have only three parts and comprise the first name, middle name, and surname.
3. What are the differences between Moorish and Arabic names?
Moorish names may reflect the mixed heritage of the Moors and their cultural influence on the regions they inhabited. Arabic names, on the other hand, reflect the Arabic language and culture.
4. Are there any restrictions on the use of Moorish names?
There are no specific restrictions on the use of Moorish names, but ascertaining the meaning and origin of the chosen name is recommended, as it may be considered inappropriate or offensive in some cultures.
5.What are the challenges associated with using Moorish names?
Some Moorish names are difficult to spell and pronounce for people who are unfamiliar with the Arabic language. This may lead to misunderstandings and misspellings of the names on official documents.
6. What is the cultural significance behind Moorish names?
Much like most Arabic names, Moorish names represent the virtues held dear in Moorish culture. They are typically pleasant names with meanings related to God and God’s blessings, positive attributes, physical features, nature, natural elements, wealth, and good fortune.
If you seek a splendid and exotic name that would grasp everybody’s attention, we suggest you consider a Moorish name for your baby. Moorish names trace their origins to Persian, Arabic, Hebrew, and several other languages. Many of the names are inspired by folklore and have beautiful meanings. These names represent the culture and ancestry of the Moors. They also have beautiful meanings that meet most parents’ naming checklist requirements. So, now that you’ve seen the list, spare no time to name your newborn.
Infographic: Moorish Names For Boys And Girls
Moors were known to be inhabitants of certain regions of Europe and Africa in the middle ages. Therefore, Moorish names have various origins and are derived from multiple languages, including Arabic and Persian. This infographic lists some classy and meaningful Moorish names to help you pick a strikingly unique moniker for your little one. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Glorious Moorish Names For Baby Boys And Girls
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
References
- Sayyidunā Abān b. Saʿīd.
https://www.dawateislami.net/magazine/en/illuminated-stars/sayyiduna-aban-ibn-said - Al-Hameed / Al-Hamid.
https://myislam.org/99-names-of-allah/al-hameed/ - Jabir ibn Hayyan.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666181/ - Khalid bin Abdul Aziz.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/khalid-bin-abdul-aziz - Khalid ibn Al-Waleed.
https://islamichistory.org/khalid-ibn-al-waleed/ - Ash-Shaheed / Ash-Shahid.
https://myislam.org/99-names-of-allah/ash-shaheed/. - Siraj ud-Daulah.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Siraj_ud-Daulah - Popularity of name Zayd.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ - James Mansfield Nichols; (2009); The Arabic Verses of Qasmūna Bint Ismā’il Ibn Bagdālah.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-middle-east-studies/article/abs/arabic-verses-of-qasmuna-bint-ismail-ibn-bagdalah/8F36D6E4281842098BDE210A7D1C1DBF - 69. Umamah The Wife Of Amir Al-Mu’minin (’A).
https://al-islam.org/shiah-women-transmitters-hadith-nahla-gharavi-naeeni/69-umamah-wife-amir-al-muminin - Are Some Spanish Surnames Islamic?
https://latinodawah.org/are-some-spanish-surnames-islamic/
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