Arabic Girl Names: 41 Ideas with Meanings and Arabic Spelling

Choosing an Arabic girl name usually means looking for three things at once: a meaning that speaks to you, a sound the whole family loves, and a name a teacher in Casablanca or London will say without stumbling. There is no shortage of lists. Type “اسماء بنات” or “Arabic girl names with meaning” into a search engine and you will find hundreds of names, with translations that change from one site to the next.

For this selection we did the opposite. We only kept names whose Arabic spelling and meaning agree in at least two serious references: etymological name dictionaries, lexicons and encyclopedias. Where sources disagreed, as with Hind, Amina or Chaima, we preferred to leave the name out rather than give you a doubtful meaning.

Each table gives the Arabic script, the meaning, the origin and a practical note on pronunciation or spelling. Expecting a boy? See our selection of Arabic boy names and their meanings.

Which Arabic girl names are short and easy to carry anywhere?

Two-syllable names without a guttural sound travel best: Lina, Maha, Nour and Farah sound almost the same in Casablanca, Paris, Madrid or New York. They are safe choices if your daughter will grow up between several languages, or if part of the family lives abroad.

Flowers, scents and gemstones: names inspired by nature

Arabic has given rise to many names drawn from plants, fragrances and precious stones. They evoke an image more than a quality, which appeals to parents who want a poetic name without too strong a connotation.

Names of virtues: gentleness, joy, hope

This is the largest family: names that express a wish for the child. Watch out for pairs that look alike but are written differently, such as Hadia “guide” and Hadia “gift”, or Lamya and Lamia: check the Arabic spelling before you register the birth.

Great names from history: Khadija, Aisha, Fatima…

These names have crossed the generations because they are linked to the early days of Islam, to the Quran or to the biblical story. Be aware, though: apart from Maryam, none of the women in this table is named in the Quran.

Pronunciation: what changes in Morocco and abroad

Four Arabic sounds do not exist in English or French: the ح in Ahlam or Farah, the ع in Abir or Aisha, the خ in Khadija and the غ in Ghada. Abroad they are usually replaced by a nearby sound or simply dropped. That is not a flaw, but it is worth knowing: a name like Ghalia may well become “Galia” when a non-Arabic speaker says it.

Spelling matters as much as sound. The same Arabic name can be written several ways in Latin letters: Bouchra or Bushra, Douaa or Doua, Najwa or Najoua. In Morocco, the birth certificate shows the name in Arabic, in Tifinagh (the Amazigh script) and in Latin letters. So choose the Latin spelling you find clearest, then stick to it, on the passport as well as on the nursery registration form. If your child is growing up between several languages, our article on raising a child between Darija, Arabic and French may help too.

Which girl names are actually mentioned in the Quran?

Just one: Maryam, the mother of Isa (Jesus). She is the only woman the Quran refers to by name, and sura 19 bears her name. Other women, such as Pharaoh’s wife or the Queen of Sheba, are mentioned without being named: the names people give them come from tradition.

Many so-called “Quranic names” are really words that appear in the text: Janna, Firdaous and Afnane, all in our tables, are examples. Khadija, Aisha, Fatima, Asmaa, Hajar and Sara, on the other hand, are not mentioned in the text, even though they belong to the history of Islam. We explain this distinction, verse by verse, in our article on names mentioned in the Quran.

Before you register the birth: the rules to know

To be entered in the Moroccan civil register, a name must comply with article 34 of Law 36-21, published in the Official Bulletin on 22 July 2021. It must not:

• offend public decency or public order, or expose the child to ridicule;
• be a family name, or the name of a town, village or tribe;
• be made up of more than two names (Fatima-Zahra is fine, a triple name is not);
• come with a title such as Lalla, or be followed by a number.

Since the implementing decree published in July 2023, the civil registrar can no longer refuse a name on their own: they record the declaration and send the case to the High Commission for Civil Status, which decides. The full rules, the situation of families living abroad and a method for choosing together are in our guide to Moroccan law on choosing a baby name. For deadlines and paperwork, see how to register your baby’s birth in Morocco.

Looking for a name you hear less often? Our selection of rare names that work in Morocco and abroad picks up where this list leaves off, and you will find all our ideas in the Baby names section.

From the shop

Keepsakes from the very first days

Once the name is chosen, it is time to keep the memories: imprint boxes and frames, from the simple model to the double frame with a photo.

• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Magic Box baby print kit, square metal box – Tiny Love146 DHinstead of 160 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Magic Box baby print kit, round metal box – Tiny Love146 DHinstead of 160 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Simple Frame baby print frame, wood – Tiny Love209 DHinstead of 230 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Simple Frame baby print frame, white – Tiny Love209 DHinstead of 230 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations wooden double photo and print frame – Tiny Love291 DHinstead of 320 DHView product
• −9 %Tiny LoveTiny Creations Double Frame baby print frame, white – Tiny Love291 DHinstead of 320 DHView product
• The whole aisle · Baby keepsakes6 products online, delivered anywhere in Morocco.Open the aisle

Products sold by La Maison du Bébé, publisher of this magazine. Prices as of 12 October 2026; please check the product page.