The Middle East is made up of many different countries – including Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia – with varying cultures, and there are a plethora of beautiful names that come from the region, for both boys and girls. Names like Malik, Omar, and Xavier (for boys) and Layla, Zara, and Fatima (for girls) all have Middle Eastern origins, and are currently among the top 500 most popular names in the US, according to Nameberry. And, of course, the name Aaliyah has been a popular choice in the US for some time, at least partially due to the world-renowned singer Aaliyah, and the name’s beautiful meaning: “exalted.”
Whether you’re looking for Middle Eastern names to use as inspiration for your own baby’s name, you’re interesting in reading about the powerful meanings behind some Middle Eastern baby names, or you want a Middle Eastern baby name that honors your own heritage, this list of 230+ options is a great place to start. It’s packed with some of our favorite Middle Eastern names, and their respective meanings, for baby boys and baby girls.
Middle Eastern Names For Boys
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With A
- Abbas: Hebrew – Lion; stern
- Abdel: Hebrew – “Servant of God”
- Abdullah: Arabic – “Servant of Allah”
- Adil: Arabic – Just
- Adnan: Arabic – Settler
- Ahmad: Arabic – “Gently praised”
- Alvan: Hebrew – Sublime
- Amir: Arabic – Prince; ruler; treetop
- Anwar: Arabic – Brighter; clearer
- Asim: Arabic – Protector; guardian
- Aziz: Arabic – Powerful; beloved
- Azhar: Arabic – Radiant; shining
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With B
- Bahir: Arabic – Luminous; sparkling
- Baraka: Arabic – Blessing
- Basheer: Arabic – “The one who brings good news”
- Bayan: Kurdish – Clearness; eloquence
- Bijan: Persian – Hero
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With C
- Cemal: Arabic – Beauty
- Cyril: Greek – Lordly
- Cyrus: Persian – Sun
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With D
- Damian: Greek – To tame; to subdue
- Dar: Persian – House; family
- Daulah: Arabic – Wealth; riches; happiness
- Demetrius: Greek – “Follower of Demeter [Greek goddess of grain]”
- Deron: Armenian – “Belongs to God”
- Dion: Greek – “Child of Heaven and Earth”
- Dorian: Greek – “From Doris”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With E
- Erol: Arabic – Strong; courageous
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With F
- Fadil: Arabic – Generous; giving
- Farid: Arabic and Persian – Unique; precious
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With G
- Gabriel: Hebrew – “God is my strength”
- Ghani: Arabic – Generous; bountiful
- Gil: Hebrew – Happiness
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With H
- Haidar: Arabic – Brave; lion
- Halil: Turkish and Albanian – Friend
- Haroun: Arabic – High mountain; exalted; enlightened
- Hassan: Arabic – Handsome
- Hosaam: Arabic – “Sword of justice”
- Husani: Arabic – Handsome
Related: 100+ Traditional “Boy Names” That You’ll Love For a Baby Girl
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With I
- Ibrahim: Arabic – “Father of multitudes”
- Ishaq: Arabic – Laughter
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With J
- Jaali: Islamic – Powerful
- Jal: Arabic – Water; resolution; firm will
- Jaleel: Arabic – Noble
- Jamaal: Arabic – Beauty
- Jamin: Hebrew – Right hand
- Jarah: Hebrew – Honeysuckle; honeycomb
- Jared: Hebrew – “He descends”
- Jaron: Hebrew – “To sing out”
- Jiri: Greek – “Farming man”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With K
- Kabil: Arabic – Spear; gatherer
- Kalil: Arabic – Friend
- Karam: Arabic – Noble; generous
- Khairi: Arabic – Goodness
- Khalid: Arabic – Immortal; everlasting
- Khalil: Arabic – Friend
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With L
- Latif: Arabic – Gentle, kind
- Lyron: Hebrew – Song of mine; song that brings me joy
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With M
- Magen: Arabic – Shield; magenta
- Malik: Arabic – King; wave
- Matek: Hebrew – “Gift of God”
- Mikal: Arabic – “Who is same to Allah”
- Murad: Arabic – Wish
- Musa: Arabic – “Delivered from water”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With N
- Naaman: Hebrew – Sweet herbs
- Nadir: Arabic – Precious; scarce
- Na’im: Arabic – Peaceful; at ease
- Nasr: Arabic – The winner
- Nayyir: Muslim – Luminous; brilliant
- Nibal: Arabic – Arrows
- Noor: Arabic – Light
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With O
- Ohannes: Hebrew – “God is gracious”
- Omar: Arabic – Flourishing; thriving; eloquent
- Oren: Hebrew – Laurel; pine tree
- Ori: Hebrew – “My light”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With P
- Philo: Greek – Loving
- Pirro: Greek – Stable; calm
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With Q
- Qassir: Arabic – “The one who distributes”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With R
- Ra’ees: Muslim – Head; chief
- Rafi: Arabic – Friend; companion; gentle; kind
- Rasul: Arabic – Messenger; apostle
- Ravi: Arabic – Just
- Razi: Hebrew – “The Lord’s secret”
- Reyhan: Arabic – Sweet basil; “favored by God”
- Ridha: Arabic – Contentment
- Roni: Hebrew – My song; my joy
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With S
- Saad: Aramaic – Help; support
- Saalim: Muslim – Secure; safe; mild; free
- Samir: Arabic – “A friend to talk to in the evening”
- Sayyid: Arabic – Lord; master
- Sef: Egyptian – Yesterday
- Shaki: Arabic – Singer
- Shams: Arabic – Sun
- Shaquille: Arabic – Well developed; handsome
- Silaah: Arabic – Arms; armor; weapons
- Symon: Hebrew – “He has heard”; flat nosed
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With T
- Tahir: Arabic – Pure; virtuous
- Taj: Arabic – Crown
- Tamar: Hebrew – Date palm tree
- Tariq: Arabic – “The one who knocks at the door”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With U
- Uri: Hebrew – My flame; my light
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With X
- Xavier: Basque – New house
- Xanthus: Greek – Golden-haired
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With Y
- Yael: Hebrew – To ascend
- Yanni: Greek – “God is gracious”
- Yaron: Hebrew – “He will sing”
- Yazdan: Arabic – Merciful; kind
- Yusef: Arabic – “God increases”
Middle Eastern Boy Names That Start With Z
- Zahir: Arabic – Helper; supporter
- Zain: Arabic – Beauty; grace
- Zarif: Arabic – Elegant
- Zeki: Turkish – Clever; intelligent
- Zev: Hebrew – Wolf
- Zimra: Muslim – Song of praise
Middle Eastern Names For Girls
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With A
- Aaminah: Arabic – Trustworthy; faithful
- Aaliyah: Arabic – Exalted; heavens
- Adira: Hebrew – Strong
- Ahava: Hebrew – Love
- Alima: Arabic – Learned; wise
- Altair: Arabic – Falcon
- Amal: Arabic – Hope; inspiration
- Amira: Arabic – Princess
- Ara: Armenian – King
- Asha: Arabic – Alive and well
- Atiya: Arabic – Present; gift
- Ayda: Turkish – Moon; “returning visitor”
- Ayesha: Arabic – Alive
- Aza: Arabic – Powerful
- Aziel: Hebrew – “God is my strength”
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With B
- Basheera: Muslim – Glad tiding; happy news
- Basimah: Muslim – Smiling
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With C
- Callista: Greek – “Most beautiful”
- Celia: Arabic – Heaven; blind
- Celina: Greek – Heavenly; moon
- Civia: Hebrew – Gazelle
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With D
- Dalia: Hebrew – Gentle; branch
- Daria: Greek – Kingly; “possess well”
- Dinah: Hebrew – “God will judge”
- Ditza: Hebrew – Happiness
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With E
- Ediba: Arabic – “One who has excellent character”
- Eris: Greek – Strife
- Esma: Turkish – Supreme
- Evona: Arabic – Archer
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With F
- Faaria: Muslim – “Woman who is tall and slim”
- Farah: Arabic – Happiness
- Fatima: Arabic – Captivating; “a woman who abstains”
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With G
- Gabi: Arabic – “God is my strength”
- Galiah: Arabic – Wave
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With H
- Hadiya: Arabic – “Guide to righteousness”
- Hazine: Arabic – Treasure
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With I
- Ilana: Hebrew – Oak tree
- Inas: Muslim – Sociability
- Iris: Greek – Rainbow
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With J
- Jael: Hebrew – Mountain goat
- Jasmine: Persian – “Gift from God”
- Jemina: Arabic – Dove
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With K
- Kala: Arabic – Miracle; art
- Karima: Arabic – Generous
- Kelia: Arabic – Crown; laurel
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With L
- Lale: Turkish – Tulip
- Layla: Arabic – Night
- Leorah: Hebrew – Light
- Levana: Hebrew – Raise up
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With M
- Mahaila: Muslim – Affection
- Maia: Greek – Mother
- Mariam: Arabic – Mary, mother of Jesus
- Mazana: Arabic – “Amazing girl”
- Miha: Arabic – Cute; elite
- Mira: Persian – Female leader
- Mirella: Hebrew – “Jehovah has said”
- Mirit: Hebrew – Drop of the sea
- Molara: Greek – References the Virgin Mary
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With N
- Naia: Greek – Dolphin; wave
- Na’ila: Arabic – The attainer; the achiever
- Najah: Arabic – Success
- Nalani: Muslim – Quiet skies
- Naya: Arabic – New
- Navah: Hebrew – Pretty; pleasant; desirable
- Nina: Arabic – “Lovely eyed”
- Noelani: Arabic – Heavenly mist
- Nura: Arabic – Light
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With O
- Odella: Hebrew – “I will praise the Lord”
- Oralee: Hebrew – My light
- Orli: Hebrew – Light
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With P
- Parvin: Arabic – Cluster of stars
- Phemia: Greek – “God of speech”
- Philana: Greek – “Lover of mankind”
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With R
- Rabia: Arabic – Spring
- Radhiya: Arabic – Contented; agreeable
- Rani: Hebrew – Queen; “she is singing”
- Rayah: Arabic – Friend
- Razi: Hebrew – “The Lord’s secret”
- Riesa: Arabic – Leader; intelligent
- Rya: Arabic – Dream
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With S
- Sabba: Arabic – Morning
- Sadira: Persian – Lotus tree
- Sadiya: Arabic – Lucky; fortunate
- Safira: Greek – Sapphire
- Salihah: Arabic – Good; agreeable
- Samara: Hebrew – “Under God’s rule”
- Sarafina: Hebrew – Ardent; fiery
- Sefa: Turkish – Pleasure
- Sheena: Arabic – “God is merciful”
- Shamsa: Arabic – Little sun
- Shey: Hebrew – Supplanter
- Shia: Hebrew – “Gift of God”
- Shirin: Persian – Sweet; charming
- Sivia: Arabic – A deer
- Sura: Arabic – Brave; princess
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With T
- Tabitha: Aramaic – Gazelle
- Tahira: Arabic – Pure; chaste
- Talor: Hebrew – Rain; dew
- Temirah: Muslim – Tall
- Thalia: Greek – “To flourish”
- Tova: Hebrew – Good; pleasing
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With U
- Uhuru: Arabic – Freedom
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With X
- Xenia: Greek – Hospitable; welcoming
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With Y
- Yeira: Hebrew – Light
- Yemina: Arabic – Right; proper
Middle Eastern Girl Names That Start With Z
- Zabrina: Arabic – Fruitful desert flower
- Zaib: Persian – Grace; beauty; elegance
- Zara: Hebrew – Blooming flower; “God remembers”
- Zareen: Persian – Golden
- Zina: Arabic – Beauty; welcoming