30 Beautiful Quranic Baby Names for Muslim Boys and Girls

30 Beautiful Quranic Baby Names: For Muslim Boys and Girls Published by QuranClub Islamic Blog at Smashwords Copyright2011 QuranClub Islamic Blog Table of Contents Introduction Choosing the Right Name Categories of Names Transliteration Issues Cultural Context & Usage Masculine vs Feminine Arrangement Order of Names 30 Beautiful Quranic Baby Names Khayir and Khayirah Saalih and Saalihah Hadi and Hadiyah Hakeem and Hakeemah Nur and Nurah Mariam Shams and Shamsah Ameen and Ameenah Dahab Muhammad and Muhammadah Jameel and Jameelah Muneer and Muneerah Diyaa’ Imran Kawkab and Kawkabah Khaleel and Khaleelah Aamin and Aamina Amal Baariz and Baarizah Baheej and Baheejah Layyin and Layyinah Marjaan Tariq and Tariqah Ahmad Judy Marwah Naadhir and Naadhirah Safaa Zahrah Zayd Getting Help with Choosing a Name About QuranClub Cover Credits . Choosing the Right Name Naturally there are limitations and rules needed for one's Quran name selection. nor the names that were most common. it is viewed as being out of place and socially uncooperative in the professional and intellectual settings of most cultures. The Holy Book. 2:2). while others haven’t received the attention they deserve. Some of the words are popular names. this creates more opportunities to be reminded of the Holy Book and for its verses to be reflected upon. there are of course many successful people with unusual. context. virtually every time that person is referred to. rather than against them. Coming from a Western standpoint. Additionally.Introduction Perhaps every Muslim knows at least one family that picks their child's name by opening the Quran and seeing where their finger lands. 2:2). using the Quran to help find appropriate names for the Muslim ummah certainly has strong merit. This is because they convey a negative sentiment and elicit unpleasant thoughts every time they are uttered. The Quran is described as being a mercy for those who believe in God (Quran. 10:57) and a guide for those who are mindful of Him (Quran. Without an incredibly special story elaborating on this odd name choice. of which the Quran is full. intended as a guidance for all people who are mindful of God (Quran. for all generations and applicable to numerous situations. speaks about humanity’s mistakes and about suffering and about punishment. though they are otherwise harmless. We haven’t chosen the most mentioned words. When a person is named after a word found in the Quran. An example of this is a simple noun. Still when using the Quran it’s best to utilize only the best selection of words – words that have a beautiful meaning or particular relevance to Islam’s message. it drives home the idea that believers may turn to the Quran for all of life’s dilemmas they face—even what to name their newborn. All words in the Quran are chosen to be there and have a special significance. No one should have to bear the burden of such a name. While that method is not recommended. simple noun names and they have made this work for. Other words to avoid when name-searching in the Quran are words that have a strange or impractical meaning. some words aren’t suitable to be used as names due to their meaning. Let’s not even imagine what children would taunt on the playground to a kid named Pen. or historical background. The majority of the words have versions for both boys and girls. rather we have surveyed the Quran and chosen 30 words that were most beautiful and appropriate. the Prophet Muhamma (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Categories of Names In a sound hadith narrated by Bukhari/Muslim. Common sense mandates that words typically used to describe such themes are to be avoided. In this book we talk about 30 Quranic words that can be used as names for children. like ‘pen’ or qalam. however. . ahmed. We encourage the reader to use the guidelines we have included in this book to find even more suitable names from the words in the Quran. but not ahdam or adham). But these spellings should not be considered to be the only correct or ‘official’ versions of the names. Beautiful names in the Quran are considered to be the pleasant adjectives. Due to the nature of the English language. Transliteration Issues Because we are writers from the West. An example of a culturally-problematic Quranic name choice is the word ‘Sakhr’. The last category to choose names from is the easiest category: Proper Nouns. but first make sure that you know the word’s correct Arabic pronunciation so that you do not alter the name’s meaning. Cultural Context and Usage The cultural context in which the name is going to be used should also be taken into account. ahmadde. Admittedly this method disregards rules of the International Phonetic Alphabet and introduces uncustomary ways to spell certain household names. when utilized in a meaningful way in the Quran. Regardless of how an Arabic name is spelled in English. there is no ‘correct’ way to spell an Arabic name.instructs the ummah to pick beautiful names to be called upon for the Day of Judgment. It is important to note that all the known names of prophets and messengers are mentioned in the Quran and they are perfectly appropriate names for male children. We will list examples from each of the aforementioned categories to demonstrate what constitutes as appropriate name selections from the Quran. and others like them are all correct. the meaningful participles and nouns. The reader is free to spell the name however they want -and it will vary region by region and family by family. and where appropriate we have suggested possible good alternative spellings. Feel free to get creative and use spellings that fit your taste. Along with nouns. The list is by no means comprehensive or exhaustive.as long as they know the proper Arabic pronunciation. Usually as long as the consonants are in the right order. Adjectives used to describe aspects of Heaven and the nature of God and his rewards are plentiful in the Quran. which Westerners will have . For this reason for each name we have made up a spelling that seems to us to reflect the name’s pronunciation. uhmud. most non-Arabic-speakers will have trouble pronouncing it. We will share many of them with the reader in this book. the vowels are yours to play with (thus: ahmad. Participles of speech are also mentioned frequently in verses and grammatically are verbs used as adjectives or nouns. we have purposely used name spellings that are easiest for a Westerner to recognize and correctly pronounce. yet we want to give new life to the names with these alternate spellings and not make it more challenging for Muslim individuals living in the West. These are words that are already commonly used names of places or people or things such as Maryam (2:87). and the proper nouns mentioned within its pages. participles work fine as names. hukm. If a word is derived from a root. and the root is used to create other words of similar meaning. and the reverse process can be used on feminine words. Such possibilities should be taken into account to avoid making the child’s life among his or her peers unnecessarily difficult. Due to the nature of the Arabic language. thus turning them masculine by the removal of the trailing ‘ah’. etc).difficulty correctly pronouncing. we have taken into account all of the root’s mentions in the Quran to determine a ‘number of mentions’ for the name. the exceptions. For each name we have described in detail the correct usage. Muneer is a boy’s name. which is an offensive word in English. and whether the names are mentioned as masculine or feminine in the Quran. ahkama. it’s often not easy to determine an exact number of mentions. . and then converted into feminine by the addition of a trailing ‘ah’ to the word. For example. Often the Quran only mentions the masculine version of a name or the feminine version. But note that this process cannot be used on all names. saying it uncomfortably close to ‘sucker’. Arrangement Order of Names We have arranged the names by the number of times they are mentioned in the Quran. some of the masculine ones can be converted into feminine ones by the addition of an ‘ah’ to the end of the word. thus the name Muneerah. but it can be made into a girl’s name by the addition of an ‘ah’. and we use the latter count to determine the order of names in this book. there are many exceptions. Masculinity vs Feminine Most of the names mentioned in this book are mentioned in the masculine form. As we said. which also forms other words like haakim. and we hope that you will find this book useful for navigating the intricacies of the Arabic language as it applies to Quranic names. because often many words are derived from one root (the name Hakeem is derived from the root h-k-m. but not both. We mention both the word’s exact number of mentions as well as the total number of mentions of the word and its siblings. {55:70} According to Khalid bin Janabah.you will find it with Allah. and who is fertile. is Seeing. a respected early scholar of the Arabic language. intact. it should always be accompanied by doing good deeds if we seek Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)’s pleasure. Khera. emphasis on Saa). Khayr. This feminine version of the name is used in description of the Huris of Paradise in verse 70 of Sura Rahman: In those gardens there are [Huris who are] good and beautiful. Saalih and Saalihah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Salih. the name Khairah has an alternate spelling and pronunciation in Arabic: Khayyirah which has three syllables instead of two (khay-yi-rah as opposed to khai-rah). Saaliha. this name describes: “a woman who comes from a good and honorable lineage. The word and its plural (Saalihaat) are used most frequently in the Quran in the phrase “those who believe do good” (over 60 times). of what you do. he is telling us what it means when used on earthly women. whose behavior is beautiful. it is the opposite of evil. Salyha (three syllables. Details: Khair means good. On a final note.” This description clearly reminds one of Khadijah (alaihas salam). which is a central theme of the Quran and used to communicate the idea that in Islam believing by itself is not enough. {2:110} This name has an explicitly mentioned feminine version. Khairah or Khaira. Girls: Salihah. who has a lot of wealth. emphasis on Saa). the great Arabic language linguist and Islamic scholar of the Abbasid era. who has a beautiful face. Solley (two syllables. Khaire (one syllable). It is mentioned in verse 2:110 among about 190 other Quranic mentions: And establish prayer and give zakah. see details. it is the opposite of corrupt. Indeed Allah. and for this reason bin Janabah’s description of the name shouldn’t be considered the only valid one. the wife of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). and whatever good you put forward for yourselves . Saaleh. Girls: Khayrah. Verse 7:73 is one of about 136 Quranic mentions. Saleha. Kheirah.30 Beautiful Quranic Baby Names Khayir and Khayirah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Khere. emphasis on Khai). and good. virtuous. Kheyyirah (two or three syllables. One such verse is the following: . and this gives the name an even higher status. Details: Salih means righteous. Both Khairah (2 syllables) and Khayyirah (three syllables) have the exact same meaning and Quranic status according to Abu Mansur Al-Azhari. Obviously the idea of having wealth and being fertile doesn’t seem to make sense in regards to huris. He said. Girls: Hadeya. Ibn Al-Athir AlJazri. but since it is a derivation of ‘Hada’. wandering blindly {7:186} And your Lord is enough for you as a guide and supporter. who lived in the 1st millennium BCE: And to the Thamud [We sent] their brother Saalih. and it is mentioned in the Quran about 74 times. should not be confused with another beautiful and popular girl name. who was sent by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to the Thamud civilization. and decisive. and for this reason we consider the status of this name very high. Another popular variant is Huda.[Prophet]. And He leaves them in their transgression. and it is one of the 99 Attributes of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). emphasis on keem) Details: Hakeem means wise. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. Hukeem (two syllables. Hakeem and Hakeemah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Hakim. "O my people. Hidaayah is not mentioned in the Quran. Haadiyah. the great Islamic scholar of Saladin’s time. it can be considered Quranic. you have no deity other than Him. . emphasis on Ha). It is mentioned in verse 44:4 in one of about 97 mentions. {25:31} The female version of this name. its various variants. and He has guided every creation toward whatever it needs to exist and survive. give those who believe and do good the news that they will have Gardens graced with flowing streams… {2:25} A few of the Quranic mentions refer to Prophet Saalih (alaihi salaam). which is derived from the same root. Whoever Allah sends astray . describes the Attribute as describing this aspect of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala): “He is the one who has given His servants the ability to see. and it is only used for girls. Hakymahs (three syllables. which has exactly the same meaning as Hidaayah (guidance). until they bore witness that He is their God. {7:73} Hadi and Hadiyah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Hady. Hadia (three syllables. Details: Hadi means guide. such as ‘Hada’ (which means ‘He guided’). and ‘Huda’ (guidance). Hidaayah (guidance). worship Allah . However. insightful. Haadiya. emphasis on Ha). and has shown them the way toward knowing Him. emphasis on keem) Girls: Hakeema. Hadee.there is no guide for him.” The word Hadi itself is mentioned 4 times in the Quran. Haadi (two syllables. are mentioned more than 100 times. {3:58} Nur and Nurah Pronunciation Aide: Boys or girls: Noor. and it is only used for boys. such as her devotion to Allah. The name doesn’t have an exact meaning. this news that we recite for you are among God’s signs and belong to the Decisive Remembrance [i. Their example is that of one who kindled a fire. Nourah (2 syllables. emphasis on Nu). radiant (something that gives off light on its own. {44:4} [Prophet]. Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see. such as a star). and it can only be used for girls. however without the ‘Al’. light (as in ‘ray of light’). Meriem. the use of Hakeem as a name is allowed. the son of Mary. which means ‘light of the faith’. but the only thing we know for certain is that it is the name of the mother of Prophet Isaa (alaihuma salam). an inspiring and enlightening personality. Mariam Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Merryum. Nura. Another popular variant is Nuraddeen. the great Arabic linguist and Islamic scholar that we mentioned earlier in ‘Khair’. {2:87} . but when it illuminated what was around him. {2:17} God is the light of the heavens and earth. turning it into Nurah for girls. Maryamme (three syllables. Details: There is a lot of different opinions on what this name actually means. And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. emphasis on Ma). and it is one of the 99 Attributes of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). mother of Jesus. every wise. according to Abu Mansur Al-Azhari. It is mentioned about 48 times in the Quran. Details: Nur means light (the opposite of darkness).e. clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. this name today describes the characteristics of Mary. the Quran]. it suggests that the person named so is a leader among the Muslims. This name is mentioned about thirty six times in the Quran. decisive command [of your Lord].when preceded by definite article ‘Al’ (Al-Hakeem) it becomes one of the 99 Attributes of Allah and cannot be used as a name. {24:35} The name Nur can be used for both boys and girls. Nora. For this reason regardless of the name’s ancient origins. Nuur (1 syllable) Girls: Noorah. It can be attached with the feminization ‘ah’. Maryam. And We gave Jesus. On that night it is made distinct. Nour. Girls: Shamsah.12} Shams and Shamsah Pronunciation Aide: Boys or girls: Shems. loyal. who said. Details: Shams stands for [The] Sun. Amyne. Verse 12:54 is one of about 19 mentions. daughter of ‘Imran. Amyna. And the king said. Save me from Pharaoh and his actions. Dahabb (two syllables. She guarded her chastity. much trusted. I will appoint him exclusively for myself. Note that the female version. is not the name of Prophet Muhammad’s mother (salalahu alaihi wa sallam wa alaiha salaam). Ameenah. Allah brings up the sun from the east. build me a house near You in the Garden. {81:21} Dahab Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Thehab. It is mentioned about 35 times in the Quran. "Indeed. She accepted the truth of her Lord’s words and Scriptures: she was truly devout." And when he spoke to him. Her name is Ahmenah (emphasis on Ah). which is mentioned later in this book. Details: Dhahab means gold (the precious metal and not the color). "Bring him to me. so We breathed into her from Our spirit. emphasis on Sham). Dishes and goblets of gold will be passed around them with all that their souls desire and their eyes delight in. save me from the evildoers.’ and Mary. emphasis on hab).God has also given examples of believers: Pharaoh’s wife. emphasis on meen). Zahab. Ameeyna (two syllables. he said. Shamse (1 syllable). or has strong Imaan (belief in Allah). It is mentioned about eight times in the Quran." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment]. Dhehab. Details: Ameen means someone who is trusted. and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. emphasis on meen). you are today established [in position] and trusted. {43:71} . Girls: Aminah. "Indeed. {66:11. {2:258} Ameen and Ameenah Pronounciation Aide: Boys: Amin. …Abraham said. Uhmeen (two syllables. Shemsa (2 syllables. so bring it up from the west. ‘Lord."{ 12:54} [Gabriel is] extremely obedient. emphasis on meel). Mohameda (four syllabes. and this affects their grammatical treatment. Muhammad is not but a messenger. or a person who deserves constant praise due to their good traits. So if he was to die or be killed." {12:18} Prophet. emphasis on ham). It is mentioned six times in the Quran. Muhamada. it means ‘praiseworthy female’ instead of ‘praiseworthy person’. Mohamad (three syllables. It is mentioned seven times in the Quran. [Jacob] said. Details: This name means beautiful. emphasis on meel). Jameel and Jameelah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Jamil. "Rather. And they brought upon his shirt false blood. I will make provision for you and release you in a beautiful way. then come. but Allah will reward the grateful {3:144} The female version. Mohamed. It is the name of Islam’s Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa sallam). but not whether they can be used as names for boys or girls. say to your wives. Words in Arabic are either masculine or feminine.Al-Azhari in his Tahdeeb Al-Lugha says that dahab is a masculine word and cannot be attached with the feminization ‘ah’ (turning it into dahabah). while obviously not mentioned in the Quran. only seven people among the Arabs were known to have this name according to Lisan alArab. Girls: Mohamada. your souls have enticed you to something. Jamyle (two syllables. ‘If your desire is for the present life and its finery. Details: Muhammad means a person in which praiseworthy characteristics are abundant. if not the most popular one. While it means both beauty in shape and beauty in behavior. emphasis on ham). [Other] messengers have passed on before him. Muhammad and Muhammadah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Muhammed. Jameela. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe. has exactly the same meaning as Muhammad.’ {33:28} . would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all. The word dahab is only used for girls. so a beautiful patience is my duty [it can also be translated as ‘and patience is beautiful’]. the Quran uses it only to refer to beauty in behavior. except that it’s exclusively female. Juhmeel. Before Islam. After Islam it became one of the world’s most popular names. Girls: Jamilah. Jamyla (two syllables. Muhammadah. Muneer and Muneerah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Monir. emphasis on neer). Imron. Diaa. starting and concluding with “it’s a name”. . "My Lord. full of light. who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture. consecrated [for Your service]. Munirah. and an illuminating moon. You are the Hearing. Verse 3:184 is the first of six Quranic mentions: Then if they deny you. [O Muhammad] . It is mentioned three times in the Quran: It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases . emphasis on neer). Girls: Moneerah. Dheya. Munir. It is the name of the father of Maryam. Kaukabbe (two syllables. brilliant. a radiant light. He details the signs for a people who know {10:5} Imran Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Imraan.that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. so accept this from me. the Knowing. Cocab. Details: Lisan al-Arab doesn’t tell us any specific meaning for this word. {25:61} Diyaa’ Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Diya. emphasis on yaa). When the wife of 'Imran said." {3:35} Kawkab and Kawkabah Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Kokab. Muniyr (two syllables. Emran (two syllables. Monyra. Indeed. Details: Diyaa means ‘source of light’. Details: The name means enlightening. mother of Isaa (Jesus) (alaihum salam). It is mentioned three times in the Quran. emphasis on ran).so were messengers denied before you. indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb. emphasis on Kaw). and can only be used for boys. something that shines brilliantly and lightens up the area around it. Allah has not created this except in truth. Imrahn. Muneera (three syllables. Dya (two syllables. {3:184} Exalted is He who put constellations in the heavens. Cocaba. close acquaintance. In ancient and Medieval times Arabs didn’t have this distinction. emphasis on lee). and it is more popular for boys: [Prophet]. Girls: Khalilah. Kawkab and Kawkabah. emphasis on Ko). while the word najm is used for stars. since that’s the way the words are used in Quranic context. he said. out of what We have provided them. In modern Arabic textbooks the word Kawkab is reserved for planets. Details: Khaleel means intimate friend. Kalil." But when it set. and both words were used interchangeably depending on content. is mentioned once in the Quran. According to Al-Azhari some Arabs used Kawkab for all stars. which means friendship. Calila. Khilaal. say to those servants of Mine who have believed to keep up the prayer and give. Kawkab and Kawkabah should be considered to mean any star. secretly and in public.Girls (again): Cokaba. inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend {4:125} [Prophet]. but it seems like this wasn’t common practice. for cultural reasons. Quranic Mention: So when the night covered him [with darkness]." {6:76} Khaleel and Khaleelah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Khalil. It is mentioned three times in the Quran. emphasis on leel). {17:73} Another version of the word. "I like not those that disappear. Both versions of the word. so that you would invent some other revelation and attribute it to Us. are used for girls only. The modern meaning of planet is more of a retooling of an old word for new purposes (not a bad thing necessarily). He said. And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham. Calyle (two syllables. Therefore when used as a name. "This is my lord. and Kawkabah. Khalyla (three syllables. Kokaba (three syllables. he saw a star. before a Day comes when there will be no trading or friendship. The word Kawkab is mentioned three times in the Quran. since at that time the nature of astronomical bodies wasn’t clearly known. and then they would have taken you as an intimate friend. Aamin and Aamina . the disbelievers tried to tempt you away from what We revealed to you. for Venus only. the feminized version of the word. Details: Kawkab means star. the feminine version. such as baraza (which means ‘it became apparent’). manifest. Amel. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. Aml. Amna (three syllables. {18:46} Baariz and Baarizah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Bahriz. It is the name of Prophet Muhammad’s mother (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam wa alaiha salaam). And they say. emphasis on Ba)." Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know {28:57} It should be noted that the name Aamin (the masculine version) is not a popular name. Bariyza (three syllables. in 28:57. Also note that Aamin is difficult to distinguish from Ameen. is mentioned once also. Quranic Mention: And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent. it is mentioned about ten times. in 16:112. Girls: Ahmena. the feminine version. and Arabs will always find it reminiscent of the feminine version (Aaminah). For this reason we don’t recommend using Aamin for boys. as opposed to the name Ameenah where the emphasis is on mee. both for Arabs and for Westerners. It is mentioned twice in the Quran. Bariza. Note that the emphasis is on Aa (thus a long Aa and a quick mina). It is mentioned twice in the Quran. Amal. Girls: Baarizah. Emell (two syllables.e. someone who is protected from all that causes fear. prospect.Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Aamen. "If we were to follow the guidance with you. Details: Aaminah means ‘safe one’. Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. the masculine version of the name) is mentioned once in the Quran. and We . emphasis on Ba). though there is no reason for this other than Arab cultural practice. The name Aamin (i. which is a beautiful and appropriate name for girls. emphasis on Em). Amal Pronunciation Aide: Emel. Bariz (two syllables. Aamn (emphasis on Aa). Along with its other variants. emphasis on Aa). Barezah. Ommna. Emal. Details: Barizah means prominent. Details: Amal means hope. Ahmina. once in the masculine form and once in the feminine form. we would be swept from our land. These considerations don’t apply to Aaminah. Bahrez. while Aaminah. Layyinah. which means ‘we made [something] soft’. {18:47} Baheej and Baheejah Pronunciation Aide: Boys or girls: Bahij. We mentioned it here so that if you use Layyinah or Layyin for your child’s name you know that the Quran mentions another form of it in 34:10. with which We cause beautiful. convivial. emphasis on heej). Leyina. Girls: Bahija. Details: Layyinah means gentle. is a popular name for boys. Details: Baheej means beautiful. while the masculine version is used to describe the manner of speech in which Prophet Moses should speak to the Pharoah: And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]. Layna (three syllables.We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [a plant] of every beautiful kind {50:7} Bahjat. . emphasis on Lay). a variant of this word. delightful gardens to grow: you have no power to make the trees grow in them—is it another god beside God? No! But they are people who take others to be equal with God.will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone. is used in referral to young trees (since their stems haven’t hardened yet). Lahyeen (two syllables. is mentioned in Sura Saba’: And we made iron soft and pliable for him [Prophet Dawood]. and it has one Quranic mention. {34:10} This form of the word is a verb and obviously cannot be used as a name. ‘alanna’. once in the feminine and another in the masculine. emphass Lay) Girls: Layyinah. Verse 50:7 is the second of two mentions. It is mentioned twice in the Quran. Bahige (two syllables. Baheyjah (three syllables. And the earth . When used in description of plants it means those with a beauty and richness of color. in Sura Naml: Who is it who created the heavens and earth? Who sends down water from the sky for you. and pliable. {27:60} Layyin and Layyinah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Layyin. The feminine version. emphasis on heej). soft. {20:44} Another form of the word. some modern Muslim scholars say that tariq refers to these stars. Taariqah. the name has Sufi connotations. emphasis on Ta). {86:1-3} The feminine version. stars that make a constant knocking sound when listened to on a radio receiver. Taariqah. Verses 86:1-2 are the only two mentions: Quranic Mention: By the sky and the night comer (or pulsar). {55:58} Tariq and Tariqah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Tahriq. It is mentioned twice in the Quran. Marjanne (two syllables. and this interpretation fits the Quranic verse perfectly.Marjaan Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Marjaan. Tarick (two syllables. while others say it refers to precious coral. which has an intensely red color and has been used in the making of jewelry for millennia. For this reason don’t use it if you don’t want people to randomly assume your child comes from a Sufi family (unless of course the child does come from one. though due to the fact it is used to refer to different Sufi doctrines (such as the Naqshbandi Tuhreequh). which are highly magnetized. rotating neutron stars that emit powerful beams of electromagnetic radiation.And what do you know of the night comer (or pulsar)? It is a piercing star. Details: According to some scholars Marjaan is a ‘small and delicate pearl’. emphasis on Ta). As long as you clearly put the emphasis on Ta in Tariqah (could be made more obvious by using the double ‘a’ spelling: Taariqah). also a Quranic name. and pulsars were initially called ‘knocking stars’. After the discovery of pulsars. Tareca (three syllables. in that case the name is a perfect choice). which means road or path. Taareq. {55:22} It is as if they [the huris] are ruby and coral. Ahmad Pronunciation Aide: . because in Arabic tariq means ‘thing that knocks’. emphasis on jan). From both of them emerge pearl and coral. Merjan. no one should confuse it with the Tuhreequh. also known as red coral (scientific name: Corallium rubrum). Details: This name means shooting star or night visitor. should not be confused with Tuhreequh (emphasis on ree). Marge-Ann. Girls: Tareqah. It is one of the names of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).Boys: Ahmed. grammatically ‘Ahmad’ is a word used for comparison--it means ‘more praiseworthy’ (hada ahmadu min dalik means ‘this is more praiseworthy than that’). "O children of Israel. the son of Mary. emphasis on Ah Details: Ahmad is said to have the exact same meaning as Muhammad: A person in which praiseworthy traits are abundant. or someone who comes from Judea. Joodiyy. the great linguist and grammarian of the Arabic language (died 311 Hijri) says it is a mountain in Amad (modern Diyar Bakr in Turkey). Joodi (two syllables. indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me. "Away with the wrongdoing people. and O sky. though this might be getting too technical. said. It is mentioned once in the Quran. others say it is a mountain in Mosul in Iraq. This name is mentioned once in the Quran: And it was said. And it was said. Such words cannot be attached with the feminization ‘ah’. and the matter was accomplished. Details: Judy is the name of the place where Prophet Noah (alaihi salam)’s ark rested when the flood ended. emphasis on Ju). they can inherit gender-specificity from the item they are describing. Scholars say that the fact that this name sounds exactly like a Christian/Jewish name doesn’t create a problem as long as it is acknowledged that the name is sourced from the Quran and not from Christian/Jewish culture. emphasis on Mar). Quranic Mention: And [mention] when Jesus. Abu Ishaaq Az-Zujaj. withhold [your rain]. swallow your water. Judy Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Judi. Marwa (two syllables. "O earth. or one who deserves constant praise due to their good character. and for this reason in Arabic it doesn’t make sense to attach an ‘ah’ to Ahmad or words like it. they cannot bestow it upon other words. whose name is Ahmad {61:6} There is no feminine version of ‘Ahmad’ because. two syllables. Ehmad." {11:44} Marwah Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Merowa. . which is short for Judith." And the water subsided. and the ship came to rest on Judy. This name sounds exactly like the popular Western name Judy. smooth rock. Safae (two syllables. Nahdra (three syllables. {2:158} Naadhir and Naadhirah Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Nadir. And whoever volunteers good then indeed. and it is the name of a hill in Mecca. radiant. has the letter ‘dhal’. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah . which commemorate Hajar when she ran between the two hills searching for water for her son Ismaeel (alaihuma salam). Nadirah. that Day. the kind that animals use as a salt lick to provide them with nutrients. the Quranic name that this entry is about. emphasis on Na). which is the letter that you read in ‘ghairal maghdhoobi alaihim’ in Surtaul Fatiha. Nahdre (two syllables. which as we said probably refers to quartz. one of the two hills in which. Naader.Details: According to Abu Hanifah Marwah means a smooth and hard white rock. It is the name of a hill in Mecca. in which case it would become Maru. Allah is appreciative and Knowing. Details: This word means a large. Hajar searched for water. Verse 75:22 is the only mention: Quranic Mention: [Some] faces. will be radiant {75:22} This name should not be confused with the popular Arab name Naader (in which the ‘d’ is the Arabic letter dal instead of dhaal).there is no blame upon him for walking between them. which likely means quartz. The name can only be used for girls since the word is a proper noun—removing the ‘ah’ would remove the Quranic significance. Others say it means a white rock that’s used for starting fires. but it is good if the person named such knows what the correct pronunciation of their name is. Sufah. Girls: Naadira. emphasis on Na). Marwah is mentioned once in the Quran: Indeed. and pure. which means ‘white stone used for igniting fires’ according to Lisan al-Arab. emphasis on Sa). as mentioned in the details of Safaa. as-safa and al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. It is mentioned once in the Quran: . important to Hajj proceedings. Details: This name describes something that’s beautiful. which means ‘rare’. and its relation to Islam is due to the importance of this hill to the Hajj proceedings. Obviously most non-Arabs would pronounce both names the same way. Nodeera. Safaa Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Suhfah. Suhfa. Nadiyra. Thus Naadhir. and is not a Quranic name. emphasis on Za). Many of the Prophet’s companions were named Zayd and for this reason it is a popular name among Muslims. It is the name of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s adopted son. it means it is one of the things that make life enjoyable. When you [Prophet] said to the man who had been favored by God and by you. For this reason Zahrah can also be considered to mean ‘splendor’ and ‘bounty’. as-safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. Details: Zahrah means flower. {2:158} Zahrah Pronunciation Aide: Girls: Zuhrah. Zehra.’ you hid in your heart what God would later reveal: you were afraid of people.there is no blame upon him for walking between them. Zahrah. It is mentioned only once in the Quran. Allah is appreciative and Knowing. Removing the ‘ah’ turns it into Zahr. just trust us. which means ‘flowers’ (it is the plural for Zahrah). When Arabs say something is a flower of the world. you don’t want to use this word for boys. The word Zahr keeps its feminine meaning since it is the plural of a feminine name (even though the ‘ah’ is removed). Zaid. Zaide (one syllable). [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. and children can be describes as flowers of the world. And whoever volunteers good then indeed. but to avoid getting confused. but it is more fitting that you fear God. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'umrah . wealth. health. one who makes progress. for instance. It is mentioned once in the Quran. God’s command must be carried out.Indeed. Details: Zayd means growth. ‘Keep your wife and be mindful of God. since that is the meaning for which it is used in the Quran: And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them. Zahruh (two syllables. When Zayd no longer wanted her. Zayd Pronunciation Aide: Boys: Zade. Zahrah cannot be turned into a name for boys by removing the ‘ah’. This is issue is different from the feminine/masculine word issue mentioned in the name dahab earlier. and for this reason cannot be used for boys. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring {20:131} Unlike other names we have mentioned. abundance. {33:37} . We gave her to you in marriage so that there might be no fault in believers marrying the wives of their adopted sons after they no longer wanted them. within a popular Arabic idiom which literally means ‘flower of the world’. Cover design by Ikram Kurdi. or if you are interested in a Quranic word that’s not described in this book and would like to learn more about it.quranclub. please feel free to send us your question using the contact form on our website at: http://www. Visit us at QuranClub.Getting Help with Choosing a Name If you have a question regarding one of the names mentioned in this book. and active Muslim generation through intelligent ideas and analysis.net.net/p/contact.html About QuranClub QuranClub is a collaborative Islamic blog that works to create a well-informed. Cover Credits Photo © Charlotte Morrall. Published by QuranClub Islamic Blog . spiritual.