Most people find Egyptian last names super interesting. Where can you find answers about how these Egyptian surnames developed and how their meanings came to be?
Prepare to travel back into history and bring Egyptian family names to life. Once you know their meaning and origin, you’ll discover what separates the popular from the rare. By the last name on the list, you’ll be an expert in what makes Egyptian last names so special!
100 Popular Egyptian Surnames
Dig into the ultimate list of Egyptian last names to uncover what makes them notable (and noble).
Abbas
Abbas is most famous as the uncle of the prophet Muhammad. It also means “brave” and is used more by Islam Shiites than Sunni Muslims.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Lion
- Pronunciation: Ahb-AHS
- Variations: Abb
- Namesakes: Hiam Abbass, a Palestinian actress known for The Syrian Bride (2004). Nabeel Lafta, an Iraqi footballer for Naft Al-Wasat.
- Popularity: Abbas ranked 185th worldwide, is most popular in Pakistan, and ranked 91st in Egypt in 2014.
Abdallah
Abdallah derives from the Arabic first name Abdullah, meaning “servant of Allah.” It’s best known as the name for the father of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Servant of God
- Pronunciation: Aab-DAHL-ah
- Variations: Abdallah, Abdalla
- Namesakes: Gene Abdallah, an American member of the South Dakota Senate from 2002 to 2010. Mohamed Abdallah, a Sudanese football coach during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Popularity: Abdallah ranked 604th worldwide, is mainly used in Sudan, and ranked 57th in Egypt in 2014.
Abdelfattah
Abdelfattah comes from the Arabic “ʻAbd al-Fattāh,” meaning “servant of the conqueror.” It also means “servant of the opener (of the gates of sustenance).” Al-Fattāh represents one of the Quranic names of God as the “one who gives victory.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Servant of the conqueror
- Pronunciation: AHB-del-FAAT-ah
- Namesakes: Randa Abdel-Fattah, an Australian writer known for Coming of Age in the War on Terror (2021).
- Popularity: Abdelfattah is rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 472nd in 2014.
Adel
Adel means “just,” “upright,” and “sincere.” It’s based on Adl, meaning “fairness” and “justice.” Adel is also another spelling for the girl’s name Adele, popular in German and Scandinavian countries.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: AH-del
- Variations: Adil
- Namesakes: Adel Adham, an Egyptian actor awarded the title of Prince of Cinema. Adel Esmat, an Egyptian writer whose novel Tales of Yusuf Tadrus, won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 2016.
- Popularity: Adel ranked 727th worldwide, is primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 6th in Libya in 2014.
Adio
Adio is very popular in places as varied as Jamaica, Italy, and Nigeria. It’s taken from Adeodato, meaning “be righteous” and “given by God” when used as a girl’s name in Nigeria. Adio also means “goodbye” and “farewell.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Nigerian
- Meaning: Righteous
- Pronunciation: AH-Dyow
- Popularity: Adio is rare worldwide and mainly used in Nigeria, ranking 876th in 2014.
Ahmad
Ahmad means “to thank someone” and is based on the Islamic faith, like many Egyptian last names. It’s typically used as the term “ahmad Allah,” meaning “thanks to God.” Ahmad is one of many names for the prophet Mohammed.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Praiseworthy
- Pronunciation: AAH-maad
- Variations: Ahmed
- Namesakes: Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, the President of Bangladesh from August to November 1975. Alimuddin Ahmad, a Bengali revolutionary in the anti-British independence movement.
- Popularity: Ahmad ranked 52nd worldwide, is primarily used in Pakistan, and ranked 124th in Egypt in 2014.
Akhenaten
Akhenaten is another name for Amenhotep IV, an ancient Egyptian king during the 18th dynasty. He’s best known for starting a cult that worshiped Aton, the sun’s disk. Akhenaten derives from the Egyptian “Akhénaton,” meaning “Amun is satisfied.”
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Beneficial to Aton
- Pronunciation: AAK-keh-NAH-taan
- Variations: Akhenaton, Akhnaton
- Popularity: Akhenaten is extremely rare worldwide, with 14 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in England.
Akil
Akil originated as the personal name Āqil, meaning “intelligent” and “prudent.” It also means “from the Akil” in Basque and “from the river Akil” in Greek.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Wise
- Pronunciation: AAH-kil
- Namesakes: Ahmad Basri Akil, the former team manager for the Malaysia national football team. Mara Brock Akil, an American screenwriter who created the UPN TV series Girlfriends (2000 to 2008).
- Popularity: Akil is rare worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 720th in Morocco in 2014.
Al-Ameen
Al-Ameen means “faithful” and “trustworthy” while using the “Al-” prefix, meaning “the.” It’s a common ending used in Islamic prayers, meaning “it is so” and “I affirm God’s truth.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Honest
- Pronunciation: Ahl-ah-MEEN
- Variations: Al-Amin
- Popularity: Al-Ameen is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Saudi Arabia.
Amenemhat
Amenemhat has no surname popularity information and only one known occurrence as a first name. It means “Amun is in front” and belonged to the first ruler of the Egyptian Twelfth Dynasty, plus four pharaohs.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Amun is foremost
- Pronunciation: Ah-meh-NEHM-haat
- Namesakes: Amenemhat I, an Egyptian pharaoh and the first king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. Amenemhat, an ancient Egyptian high priest of Amun at Karnak, under Amenhotep II of the 18th Dynasty.
Ashraf
Ashraf means “most honorable one” and “very noble.” It’s associated with the Arabic “sharīf,” meaning “highborn.” Ashraf is used by Arabs who are both Christian and Muslim.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: More distinguished
- Pronunciation: ASH-raaf
- Namesakes: Aedy Ashraf, a Malaysian actor appearing in Cinta Kolesterol and Jutawan Fakir. Nasim Ashraf, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board between 2006 and 2008.
- Popularity: Ashraf ranked 755th worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 23rd in 2014.
Ayad
Ayad is related to the Arabic first name “Iyad,” meaning “recurrence.” Ayad has many beautiful meanings, such as “benefit, blessings, and power.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Recurrence
- Pronunciation: AEY-aad
- Variations: Ayyad
- Namesakes: Ahmed Ayad, an Iraqi footballer for the Iraq national football team. Mohammed Ali Ayad, a Qatari judoka who competed at the 2006 Asian Games.
- Popularity: Ayad is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 34th in Palestine in 2014.
Badawi
Badawi is an Arabic word that means “one who is from the desert” or “’from Al Badiya” (“from the desert.”) Al-Badawi is often used to denote the Bedouin people who are known to be nomads who reside in the desert.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: From the desert
- Pronunciation: Baa-DAH-wiy
- Namesakes: Samar Badawi, a Saudi Arabian human rights activist who participated in the 2012 women driving campaign. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009.
- Popularity: Badawi is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 126th in Sudan in 2014.
Badru
Badru is often used as a boy’s name, specifically meaning “born during a full moon.” It shares the same meaning in Swahili and is a traditional Muslim name.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Full moon
- Pronunciation: Baa-DRUW
- Popularity: Badru is rare worldwide and mostly used in Nigeria.
Baketmut
Baketmut is a relatively obscure example of Egyptian surnames taken from an ancient Egyptian princess. She was the daughter of Pharaoh Ramesses II and is usually shown with a gold cobra on her head. Baketmut is so rare it has no popularity statistics, but it once meant “handmaid of Mut” in the ancient world.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: The face of Neith
- Pronunciation: BAA-ket-Moot
Bakir
Bakir was originally the Arabic “bākir,” meaning “coming early.” It also means “copper” in Turkey, where it’s most used and is somewhat common in Egyptian today.
- Origin: Egyptian, Turkish
- Meaning: Coming early
- Pronunciation: BAA-kir
- Namesakes: Feride Bakır, a Turkish-German footballer for the Turkish women’s national football team. Tursunbai Bakir Uulu, the Kyrgyz leader of the Erkin Kyrgyzstan political party.
- Popularity: Bakir is rare worldwide and mainly used in Turkey, ranking 222nd in 2014.
Chisisi
Besides being Egyptian, Chisisi is also found in the Ngoni tribe in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Chisisi is so rare that its first origins are somewhat unknown.
- Origin: Egyptian, African
- Meaning: Secret
- Pronunciation: Chi-SIH-siy
- Popularity: Chisisi is extremely rare worldwide, with just four known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Zambia.
Darwish
Darwish has multiple meanings, one of which means “one who revolves around himself in circles on songs mentioning God.” It’s usually given to people in the Levantine communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. Darwish means “roaming” to indicate people who were wandering, like many Jewish tribes.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Wandering
- Pronunciation: DAAR-wish
- Namesakes: Abdullah Nimar Darwish, the founder of the Islamic Movement in Israel. Karim Darwish, an Egyptian squash player who won the World Junior Championship title in 2000.
- Popularity: Darwish is uncommon worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 56th in Lebanon in 2014.
Dawood
Dawood is yet another version of David, this one denoting the father of the prophet Solomon. It’s an Arabic variation of the first name Dāwūd with many unique variations globally.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Prophet
- Pronunciation: DAH-wood
- Variations: Dawud, Davood, Daood
- Namesakes: Ismail Dawood, an English cricket player for Glamorgan.
- Popularity: Dawood ranked 1,354th worldwide, is mainly used in Iraq, and ranked 347th in Egypt in 2014.
Eldessouky
Eldessouky derives from the Arabic “sayyid,” meaning “lord” and “prince.” Like other Egyptian last names, Eldessouky can appear as a compound name, like El-Dessouky or Al-Dessouky.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: The master
- Pronunciation: EHL-des-UW-kiy
- Variations: El-Dessouky, Al-Dessouky
- Popularity: Eldessouky is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it’s uncommon.
El Masry
El Masry is unique among Egyptian family names, denoting where someone is from (Egypt). It’s used in places near Egypt, like Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. El-Masry is also the name of an Egyptian football team in Port Said.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: The Egyptian
- Pronunciation: EHL-Maas-riy
- Variations: Al Masry, Masry, Masri, El Masri
- Popularity: El Masry is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Jordan, and ranked 506th in Egypt in 2014.
El Shamy
People with the surname El Shamy were usually members of the Levantine community in many Arab countries. Shamy, when spelled Shami on its own, refers to someone from Damascus, Syria.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: From Levantine
- Pronunciation: Ehl-SHAH-miy
- Variations: El Shami, Elshamy
- Popularity: El Shamy is rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 1,660th in 2014.
El Sherif
El Sherif centers around the Arabic “sherif,” meaning “noble” and “highborn.” It was first a title given to a family descended from the Islamic prophet Muhammad and has many spelling variations today.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Honorable
- Pronunciation: EHL-Shah-reef
- Variations: El Sharif, Sherif, Al Sherif
- Namesakes: Nour El Sherif, an Egyptian actor known for Bloody Sunday (1975). Safwat El Sherif, the Egyptian chairman of the State Information Service between 1978 and 1980.
- Popularity: El Sherif is rare worldwide, primarily used in Yemen, and ranked 995th in Egypt in 2014.
Eskander
Eskander is an Egyptian Arabic form of Iskandar, meaning “Alexander.” It’s thought of as a Persian word mainly used by Coptic Christians. In Turkey, the similarly spelled Iskender refers to a kebob named after the 19th-century chef who invented the Döner Kebab sandwich.
- Origin: Egyptian, Persian
- Meaning: Alexander
- Pronunciation: EHS-Kaan-der
- Variations: Eskender, Eskinder
- Namesakes: Alan Eskander, an Australian entrepreneur who founded the bookmaking company Betstar in 2007. Saad Eskander, an Iraqi Kurdish academic awarded the Archivist of the Year Award by New York’s Scone Foundation in 2007.
- Popularity: Eskander is rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, ranking 1,129th in 2014.
Essa
Essa is an Arabic version of Issa, both meaning “Jesus.” It’s also a pretty Persian female name meaning “star” and “myrtle.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Jesus
- Pronunciation: EHS-ah
- Variations: Issa
- Namesakes: Michael Essa, an American racing driver who won the Formula D championship in 2013. Omair Essa, a Qatari footballer for Qatar SC.
- Popularity: Essa is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 92nd in Libya in 2014.
Fadel
Fadel is based on the Arabic “fạ̄dil,” meaning “generous” and “excellent.” It’s sometimes linked to “learning” and is a name given to a worthy individual who makes their Arabic family proud.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Virtuous
- Pronunciation: FAH-dehl
- Variations: Fadl, Fadil
- Namesakes: Leila Fadel, a Lebanese-American co-host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition since 2002.
- Popularity: Fadel ranked 1,689th worldwide, is primarily used in Iraq, and ranked 277th in Egypt in 2014.
Fahmy
Fahmy was first used as a name in Egypt and is still very popular there. It comes from the Arabic “fahm,” meaning “understanding” and “to understand.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: My understanding
- Pronunciation: FAA-miy
- Variations: Fahmi
- Namesakes: Hussein Fahmy, an Egyptian actor and the first UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab States in 1998. Raid Jahid Fahmi, the Iraqi Minister of Science and Technology from 2006 to 2010.
- Popularity: Fahmy is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 73rd in 2014.
Faisal
Faisal is best described as a “person who separates between the true and false.” It began as a first name from the Arabic root “f-ṣ-l,” meaning “to separate” or “to split.” Faisal also means everything from “resolute” and “judge” to “sword.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Arbitrator
- Pronunciation: FAEY-saul
- Variations: Faisel, Fayçal, Faysal
- Popularity: Faisal ranked 1,299th worldwide, is primarily used in Pakistan, and ranked 741st in 2014.
Farag
Farag, more specifically, means “disappearance of worries.” It’s used in the Arab phrase “God gave him farag,” when a person overcomes a challenge.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: To cure
- Pronunciation: Faa-RAAG
- Variations: Faraj
- Namesakes: Ibrahim Farag, an Egyptian freestyle wrestler who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Alfred Farag, an Egyptian playwright prominent during the post-1952 Revolution.
- Popularity: Farag is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 30th in Libya in 2014.
Fathy
Fathy means “conqueror,” plus “prosperity,” “winner,” and “warrior.” As a boy’s name, it means “opener of something” in Turkish. Fathy is associated with Fateh in Sanskrit as well.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Victory
- Pronunciation: FAA-thiy
- Variations: Fathi
- Namesakes: Hassan Fathy, an Egyptian architect awarded the Aga Khan Chairman’s Award for Architecture in 1980.
- Popularity: Fathy ranked 1,862nd worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, ranking 67th in 2014.
Fouad
Fouad doesn’t just mean “heart” but refers to a “circulating heart,” which, in Arab culture, is associated with the “mind and spirit.” It’s also based on the first name Fuād, from “fu’ād,” meaning “heart” and “soul,” and is very typical in Egypt.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Heart
- Pronunciation: FOO-ahd
- Variations: Foud, Fuaad, Foad
- Namesakes: Hala Fouad, an Egyptian actress known for The Barefoot Millionaire (1987). Yasmine Fouad, the Egyptian Minister of Environment since 2018.
- Popularity: Fouad ranked 1,880th worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked 40th in 2014.
Gad
Gad derives from the Arabic “jād,” meaning “serious” and “earnest,” used by Muslims, Christians, and Jews. In the Bible, Gad was one of the sons of Jacob. It’s also a Danish nickname meaning “sting point.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Earnest
- Pronunciation: GAAD
- Namesakes: Urban Gad, a Danish film director known for The Assumption of Hannele (1922). Hubert Gad, a Polish footballer for Śląsk Świętochłowice.
- Popularity: Gad is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, ranking 95th in 2014.
Gamal
Gamal means “God is my reward” in Arabic, yet it means “camel” in Hebrew. It’s best known as a boy’s name meaning “handsome,” used by Arabic and Danes alike.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Beauty
- Pronunciation: Gah-MAAL
- Variations: Gamel
- Namesakes: Mazen Gamal, an Egyptian squash player ranked 49th worldwide as of 2022. Raghda Gamal, a Yemeni poet known for Once Upon a Revolution: Poems and Photos (2012).
- Popularity: Gamal ranked 842nd worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 10th in 2014.
Habib
Habib is a top Egyptian boy’s name meaning “beloved one” or “darling.” When based on the Arabic “habīb,” meaning “beloved friend,” it’s also used by Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The term “habībullāh” takes it further by meaning “beloved of God,” an epithet of the prophet Muhammad.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Beloved
- Pronunciation: Hah-BEEB
- Variations: Habeeb
- Namesakes: Meyer Habib, a Tunisian-Jewish French-Israeli member of the French National Assembly from 2013 to 2023. Ralph Habib, a Lebanese-French filmmaker who directed The Black Chapel (1959).
- Popularity: Habib ranked 594th worldwide, is mainly used in Bangladesh, and ranked 131st in Egypt in 2014.
Hadi
Like other Egyptian surnames, Hadi has various forms, such as El-Hadi and Al-Hadi. Al-Hadi stands for one of the 99 names of God in Islam. It’s associated with “hidayah,” also meaning “guide.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Leader, guide
- Pronunciation: HAA-diy
- Variations: Hady
- Namesakes: Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the president of Yemen from 2012 to 2022. Seftia Hadi, an Indonesian footballer for PSCS Cilacap.
- Popularity: Hadi ranked 723rd worldwide, is primarily used in Indonesia, and ranked 32nd in Iraq in 2014.
Hafez
Hafez refers to “one who remembers” or a “memorizer.” It’s a word used in Islam for someone who has memorized the Quran.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Preserver, keeper
- Pronunciation: HAH-fez
- Variations: Hafiz
- Namesakes: Abdel Halim Hafez, an Egyptian singer who has sold over 80 million records globally. Sherwite Hafez, an Egyptian swimmer who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Hafez is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 111th in 2014.
Hakim
Hakim comes from the Arabic “ḥakīm,” meaning “intelligent.” It originally referred to any learned person and became a term for a “physician.” Hakim is also a title sometimes given to a governor or a judge.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Wise
- Pronunciation: Haa-KEEM
- Variations: Al-Hakim
- Namesakes: Yalda Hakim, an Australian broadcast journalist at BBC News. Saalim Hakim, an American football player for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Popularity: Hakim ranked 1,037th worldwide, is mainly used in Indonesia, and ranked 449th in Egypt in 2014.
Hamada
Hamada is based on the Arabic “hamd,” meaning “’to praise.” It also relates to “ḥammāda,” a word for a “desert landscape” containing rocky plateaus. Hamada is similarly popular in Japan, where it means “seashore.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Japanese
- Meaning: To praise
- Pronunciation: Hah-MAA-daa
- Variations: Hammada
- Namesakes: Kunio Hamada, a member of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2001 to 2006. Mido Hamada, an Egyptian-German actor appearing in the mini-series The Path to 9/11.
- Popularity: Hamada ranked 1,357th worldwide, is primarily used in Japan, and ranked 88th in Egypt in 2014.
Hamidi
Hamidi means “to be commended.” It’s taken from the Arabic personal name Hamid, the basis for many Egyptian surnames on the list.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Praise
- Pronunciation: Haa-MIY-dee
- Variations: Hamid
- Namesakes: Elham Hamidi, an Iranian actress appearing in The Kingdom of Solomon (2010). Javad Hamidi, an Iranian Modernist painter and founding member of the Khorūs-e Jangi, an artists group in Iran.
- Popularity: Hamidi is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Iran, and ranked 31st in Algeria in 2014.
Hassan
Hassan comes from the Arabic root “h-s-n,” meaning everything from “good,” “handsome,” to “excellent.” In 2014, Hassan also ranked 4th in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, while it’s also used in Ireland, Scotland, and Israel.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Favorable
- Pronunciation: Haa-SAAN
- Variations: Hasan
- Namesakes: Steven Hassan, an American author who founded the Freedom of Mind Resource Center in 1999. Mansour Hassan, the Chairman of the Advisory Council of Egypt between 2011 and 2012.
- Popularity: Hassan ranked 60th worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, ranking 4th in 2014.
Hegazy
Hegazy is a very specific surname that refers to anyone from the “Hijaz region in Saudi Arabia.” It’s still used today for someone who likely has ancestors from this region.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: From the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia
- Pronunciation: Heh-GAA-ziy
- Variations: Hegazi
- Namesakes: Mahmoud Hegazy, the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces from 2014 to 2017. Abd El Aziz Mohamed Hegazy, the 38th Prime Minister of Egypt from 1974 to 1975.
- Popularity: Hegazy is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 52nd in Palestine in 2014.
Ibrahim
Ibrahim is the Arabic version of the Hebrew Abraham, associated with “avhamon,” meaning “father of many.” Ibrahim has a different legacy on its own as a prophet of God.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Father of many
- Pronunciation: IY-brah-Heem
- Variations: Ibraheem
- Namesakes: Fauziah Ibrahim, a Singaporean-Australian news presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Musa Ibrahim, a Bangladeshi mountaineer and the first Bangladeshi to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2010.
- Popularity: Ibrahim ranked 65th worldwide, is mainly used in Nigeria, and ranked 6th in Egypt in 2014.
Ismail
Ismail derives from the Hebrew “Ismayil.” In Islam, it refers to the legacy of the “son of Prophet Ibrahim.” Ismail is better known for the first line of the novel Moby Dick— “Call me Ishmael.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Heard by God
- Pronunciation: IZ-Maey-el
- Variations: Ishmael
- Namesakes: Hamid Ismail, a Qatari footballer for Al-Arabi. Usmar Ismail, an Indonesian journalist who headed the Indonesian Journalists Association from 1946 to 1947.
- Popularity: Ismail ranked 235th worldwide, is mainly used in Pakistan, and ranked 36th in Egypt in 2014.
Issa
Issa, like Essa, is another Arabic word meaning “Jesus.” It may have appeared as Īsā, taken from Iēsous. In Islam, Issa is known as a messenger of Allah.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: God saves
- Pronunciation: IY-sah
- Variations: Isa, Essa
- Namesakes: Farouk Abu Issa, the Sudanese Foreign Minister from 1969 to 1971. Leandro Issa, a Brazilian mixed martial artist with One Fighting Championship.
- Popularity: Issa ranked 448th worldwide and is primarily used in Niger, where it ranked 7th in 2014.
Jamal
Jamal comes from the Arabic “jamāl,” meaning “grace.” When used as a boy’s name, it means “handsome” in Arabic. Jamal is a name used throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and much of the Balkans, where there is a Muslim population.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Beauty
- Pronunciation: Jah-MAAL
- Variations: Jamaal
- Namesakes: Ahmed Jamal, a Pakistani first-class cricketer for Sui Southern Gas Company. Maher Jamal, an oil minister of Syria between 1996 and 2001.
- Popularity: Jamal ranked 892nd worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, ranking 82nd in 2014.
Khaldun
Khaldun is based on the Arabic root “khalada’,” meaning “to remain” or “last forever.” It’s associated with the idea of immortality and eternal life in Islam. The Arabic “khald” means “eternity” itself, while the term “dar el-khald” refers to “paradise.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Everlasting
- Pronunciation: KAAL-doon
- Variations: Khaldoon, Khaldoun
- Namesakes: Ibn Khaldun, a 14th-century Arab philosopher, and social scientist during the Middle Ages.
- Popularity: Khaldun is very rare and mainly used in Indonesia.
Khaled
Khaled offers the gorgeous meaning of “immortality,” or “something that never dies.” Khalid ibn al-Walid is best associated with Khaled, who was a military commander in the 7th-century. In 2014, Khaled was also the top surname in Syria.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Immortal
- Pronunciation: KAA-led
- Variations: Khalid, Kalid
- Namesakes: DJ Khaled, an American DJ whose album Victory (2010) was certified triple platinum. Amr Khaled, an Egyptian preacher voted one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2007.
- Popularity: Khaled ranked 270th worldwide, is primarily used in Syria, and ranked 23rd in Egypt in 2014.
Khalifa
Khalifa is a somewhat royal-sounding title, meaning “successor” or “steward.” It’s often used for a leader of a caliph or Muslim ruler but is used for many kinds of leaders. As a boy’s name, Khalifa is a variation of Khalil and Khalid, meaning “friend” and “everlasting.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Ruler
- Pronunciation: Kaa-LIY-fah
- Variations: Khalifah
- Namesakes: Omer Khalifa, a Sudanese runner, and silver medalist at the Olympic Boycott Games in 1980. Sam Khalifa, an American baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Popularity: Khalifa ranked 1,093rd worldwide, is mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 10th in Libya in 2014.
Khalil
Khalil means “inner self” and “heart” but is best known for meaning “friend.” The Arabic “khalīlullāh” means “friend of God” and usually refers to the prophet Ibrahim. Khalil is popular as a boy’s name used in multiple Muslim communities from Europe to Asia and the Middle East.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Friend
- Pronunciation: Kaa-LIYL
- Variations: Khaleel
- Namesakes: Christel Khalil, an American actress known for the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. Faisal Khalil, an Emirati footballer for the UAE national football team.
- Popularity: Khalil ranked 393rd worldwide, is mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 4th in Lebanon in 2014.
Khufu
If your surname is Khufu, you can live your fantasy of being an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Also called Cheops, Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, best known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Khnum protects me
- Pronunciation: KUW-fuw
- Popularity: Khufu is extremely rare worldwide, with 26 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Zimbabwe.
Lalh
Lahl is quite unknown among Egyptian family names. It’s not fantasy or fake but appears more in Egypt than elsewhere. Lakh is sometimes used as a first name in Pakistan.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: LAHL
- Popularity: Lakh is rare worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 138th in 2014.
Mabrouk
Mabrouk is also a phrase used by Muslims and Sephardic Jews to congratulate and celebrate. It’s the alternative to saying “Mazal tov” to someone you love.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Blessed
- Pronunciation: Mah-BROOK
- Variations: Mabrook
- Namesakes: Mehdi Mabrouk, the Tunisian Minister of Culture in 2011. Néjia Ben Mabrouk, a Tunisian screenwriter known for Sama.
- Popularity: Mabrouk is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 195th in Morocco in 2014.
Madbouli
Madbouli has little information about its origins, including an unknown meaning. It’s barely found outside of Egypt, but happens to be the prime minister’s surname.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: MAAD-Bool-iy
- Variations: Madbouly
- Namesakes: Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister of Egypt since 2018. Ahmed Madbouly, an Egyptian footballer for Ismaily.
- Popularity: Madbouli is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt.
Magdy
Magdy is one of the names used for God in Islam, meaning “most giving.” Like many names based on Islam, Magdy means “praiseworthy” and “glory.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Honorable
- Pronunciation: MAAG-diy
- Variations: Magdi, Majdi
- Namesakes: Ahmed Magdy, an Egyptian-Algerian filmmaker who directed “Ella El-Bah” (“To the Sea”). Ahmed Magdy, an Egyptian footballer for the Egypt national team.
- Popularity: Magdy ranked 1,488th worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, ranking 17th in 2014.
Maher
Maher means “talented” or “expert” in Arabic. In Islam, a “maher” is a traditional gift from a husband to a wife-to-be. It’s better known for its Celtic origins based on O’Maher, meaning “descendant of Meachair,” meaning “fair” and “handsome.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Celtic
- Meaning: Skillful
- Pronunciation: MAA-her
- Variations: Mahir
- Namesakes: Bill Maher, an American comedian and host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher since 2003. Shiraz Maher, a British writer and director at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence.
- Popularity: Maher ranked 1,612th worldwide, is mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 52nd in Ireland in 2014.
Manu
Manu was first a boy’s name meaning “second-born,” which it also means in Ghana. In Hinduism, Manu oversees the laws of the universe. It’s also better known as a Romanian surname and a lesser-known Indonesian surname meaning “chicken.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Indonesian
- Meaning: Born second
- Pronunciation: MAA-Nuw
- Namesakes: Gheorghe Manu, the Romanian prime minister from 1889 to 1891. Gabriel Manu, a Romanian footballer for Steaua București.
- Popularity: Manu is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Nigeria, and ranked 12th in Tonga in 2014.
Meritaten
Meritaten is inspired by an ancient Egyptian female ruler during the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. It also means “she who is beloved of Aten” and has no popularity statistics.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: The strong bull
- Pronunciation: Meh-rih-TAH-ten
- Variations: Merytaten, Meritaton, Meryetaten
Mesbah
Mesbah has many “light” focused meanings, like “oil lamp” and “lantern.” In the Quran, it’s related to the Ayatu-n-Nur, known as the “ayat of light.” In religious terms, the phrase means “God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Lamp
- Pronunciation: MEHS-bah
- Variations: Misbah
- Popularity: Mesbah is rare worldwide, mostly used in Algeria, and ranked 1,183rd in Egypt in 2014.
Mohamed
Mohamed means “commendable” when taken from the Arabic “ḥammada.” It’s super popular as a Muslim name for boys based on Mohammad, the founder of Islam. In 2014, Mohamed was also the top surname in Iraq and Yemen.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Praiseworthy
- Pronunciation: Mow-HAA-mehd
- Variations: Muhammed, Muhamad, Mohammad, Mohammed, Mohamad
- Namesakes: Mandy Mohamed, a Dutch-Egyptian artistic gymnast and gold medalist at the 2019 African Games. Nadifa Mohamed, a Somali-British writer whose novel The Fortune Men was shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize.
- Popularity: Mohamed ranked 41st worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked number one in 2014.
Mohsen
Mohsen has Arabic and Persian origins taken from the first name Muḥsin, meaning “beneficent.” The Arabic root “h-s-n” means “beauty” and “excellence” while also encouraging a person “to be kind.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Benefactor
- Pronunciation: MOH-Sahn
- Variations: Mohsin, Muhsin, Muhsen
- Namesakes: Montther Mohsen, a Canadian soccer player for Shabab Al-Khalil SC. Zuheir Mohsen, a Palestinian leader of the pro-Syria faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization between 1971 and 1979.
- Popularity: Mohsen ranked 775th worldwide, is primarily used in Iraq, and ranked 66th in Egypt in 2014.
Moustafa
Moustafa comes from the Arabic “muṣṭafā,” meaning “chosen.” The “ṣafā” means “to be pure” and is one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad. Moustafa is thought to be a Turkish spelling for Mustafa.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Chosen
- Pronunciation: Muh-STAA-fah
- Variations: Moustapha, Mustafa, Mostafa
- Namesakes: Ibrahim Moustafa, an Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestler who competed at the 1924 Olympics. Tamer Moustafa, an Egyptian basketball player with the Egypt national basketball team.
- Popularity: Moustafa is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, ranking 106th in 2014.
Nabil
Nabil means “highborn” and “brave” for your royal baby boy. It also appears as a pretty feminine version – Nabila.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: Nah-BEEL
- Variations: Nabeel
- Namesakes: Ahmed Nabil, an Egyptian fencer who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Rahmatullah Nabil, the head of the Afghan National Directorate of Security from 2010 to 2012.
- Popularity: Nabil ranked 1,800th worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked 37th in 2014.
Naglaa
Naglaa is very mysterious when it comes to Egyptian last names. It’s associated with Nagila, meaning “to wear,” but is also a feminine first name meaning “girl with wide eyes.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Adornment
- Pronunciation: NAH-Glaa
- Variations: Nagla
- Popularity: Naglaa is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt.
Nassry
Nassry comes from the Arabic “naṣr,” meaning “triumph.” It’s also used plentifully in Iran and Morocco for someone who is a “descendant of Nassir.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Victory
- Pronunciation: NAAS-riy
- Variations: Nasri
- Popularity: Nassry is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Egypt.
Nizam
Nizam is based on the Arabic “nizām,” meaning “orer” and “ruler.” It was once a title for the ruler of Hyderabad, India, and its origins are also connected to the Persian language.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Disciplined
- Pronunciation: NIY-Zaam
- Variations: Nezam
- Namesakes: Musa Nizam, a Turkish footballer Isparta 32 SK. Sheen Kaaf Nizam, an Urdu-Indian poet who edited Deewan-e-Ghalib.
- Popularity: Nizam is rare worldwide, mainly used in Bangladesh, and ranked 384th in Sri Lanka in 2014.
Nuru
Nuru comes from the Arabic “nur,” meaning “my fire,” “luminous,” and “radiant.” The Islamic phrase “An-Nur” means “the light” in Arabic and Swahili.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Born during the day
- Pronunciation: Nuw-RUW
- Variations: Nur, Nuria
- Popularity: Nuru is rare worldwide and primarily used in Ethiopia, ranking 238th in 2014.
Omar
Omar is a popular first name and surname inspired by Umar ibn al-Khattab, a military leader who helped Islam grow. It also means “flourishing” in Arabic and “long life” in Hebrew.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Long-lived
- Pronunciation: OW-Maar
- Variations: Umar, Omer
- Namesakes: Elyas Omar, the third Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 1980 to 1992. Nagi Omar, a Swedish singer/songwriter who competed in Melodifestivalen 2017.
- Popularity: Omar ranked 304th worldwide, is mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 7th in Libya in 2014.
Osama
Osama derives from the Arabic root “a-s-m,” meaning “the one with a name.” It’s also one of multiple Arabic boy names meaning lion.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Lion
- Pronunciation: Ow-SAA-maa
- Variations: Oussama, Usama
- Popularity: Omar is uncommon worldwide and mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked 61st in 2014.
Ragab
Ragan also means “Lord Ram” and refers to the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. It translates to many cool spelling variations like Recep in Turkish and Rexhep in Albanian.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Lord of God
- Pronunciation: Rah-GAAB
- Variations: Rajab
- Namesakes: Ahmed Ragab, an Egyptian sailor who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab, the Prime Minister of Libya from 1984 to 1986.
- Popularity: Ragab ranked 1,785th worldwide and is primarily used in Egypt, ranking 39th in 2014.
Rahotep
Rahotep originates in ancient Egypt with Prince Rahotep, who ruled during the 4th Dynasty. It consists of “Ra,” referring to the “Egyptian god of the Sun,” and “Hotep,” meaning “satisfied.” It also means “Ra-peaceful” and “Ra-content.”
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Ra is satisfied
- Pronunciation: Raa-HOUW-tep
- Popularity: Rahotep is extremely rare worldwide, with just four known occurrences in 2014 in the U.S.
Ramadan
Ramadan refers to Ramaḍān, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It consists of a month of fasting for Muslims and is considered a sacred ritual in the Islamic faith.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Born in the month of Ramadan
- Pronunciation: RAH-Mah-daan
- Variations: Ramzan
- Namesakes: Sunduz Ramadan, an Australian boxer and the WBC female bantamweight champion from 2012 to 2014. Ahmed Ramadan, Ghana’s first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since 2017.
- Popularity: Ramadan ranked 461st worldwide, is mostly used in Pakistan, and ranked 20th in Egypt in 2014.
Ramses
Ramses, more specifically, means “begotten by Ra, the sun god.” In ancient Egypt, Ramses appeared as Ramsses and was the name for multiple pharaohs. The First Remesses was the founder of the 19th Dynasty.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Begotten by Ra
- Pronunciation: RAAM-sees
- Variations: Ramesses
- Popularity: Ramses is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Egypt.
Rashad
Rashad is one of many Quranic names with definitions like “good judgment,” “integrity,” and “good guidance.” It uses the Arabic root “rashada,” meaning “to be on the right path.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Young gazelle
- Pronunciation: Rah-SHAAD
- Variations: Rashaad
- Namesakes: Ali Akbar Rashad, an Iranian philosopher and a member of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC). Phylicia Rashad, an American actress known for The Cosby Show (1984 to 1992).
- Popularity: Rashad is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 112th in 2014.
Reda
Reda is based on the Arabic “ridha,” meaning everything from “contentment” and “wish” to “goodwill” and “desire.” It’s famous for Ali Musi Al-Ridha, a 9th-century Shiite imam. Reda also means “favored by God” and is a mountain in Saudi Arabia.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Satisfaction
- Pronunciation: REH-dah
- Namesakes: Mahmoud Reda, an Egyptian gymnast who competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Robin Reda, the French mayor of Juvisy-sur-Orge from 2014 to 2017.
- Popularity: Reda ranked 1,894th worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, ranking 70th in 2014.
Romia
Romia also means “a person from Rome” in Italian. It was a name for a Roman used in Egypt during Roman rule from 30 BC to 640 CE for approximately 600 years.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: From Rome
- Pronunciation: RAA-miy-Ah
- Popularity: Romia is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Egypt.
Saad
Saad is taken from the Arabic “saʿd,” meaning good fortune” and “success.” It’s also one of the most common Egyptian surnames that start with S, meaning “friend.” Saad also relates to the verb “sa‘ada,” meaning “to be happy.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Happy
- Variations: Sa’id
- Namesakes: Adam Saad, an Australian rules footballer for Carlton Football Club. Margit Saad, a German actress appearing in The Criminal (1960).
- Popularity: Saad ranked 464th worldwide, is primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 5th in Lebanon in 2014.
Sadek
Sadek is reserved for someone who is “an honest friend.” It comes from the Arabic root “s-d-k,” meaning “sincerity” and “loyalty.” In Polish, Sadek is a surname for a fruit grower or someone living in an orchard.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Truthful
- Pronunciation: Saa-DEK
- Variations: Sadik
- Namesakes: Mohammed Ahmed Sadek, the Egyptian Minister of War from 1971 to 1972. Pierre Sadek, a Lebanese caricaturist for newspapers including Al Anwar.
- Popularity: Sadek is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 153rd in 2014.
Saffet
As a boy’s name, Saffet derives from the Arabic “safa,” meaning “purity.” It’s also a Turkish boy’s name meaning “cleanliness.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: One who is safe
- Pronunciation: Sae-FIYT
- Variations: Safet
- Popularity: Saffet is extremely rare worldwide with 105 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in England.
Said
Said derives from the Arabic “sa’ada,” meaning “to be happy, fortunate or lucky.” It’s commonly used in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria and means “master” in Arabic. Saʿīd ibn Zayd was a companion of the prophet Muhammad.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Master
- Pronunciation: SAEY-iyd
- Variations: Sa’id, Sayd
- Namesakes: Edward Said, a Palestinian-American writer known for Orientalism (1978). Samira Said, a Moroccan singer who competed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980.
- Popularity: Said ranked 456th worldwide, is primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 11th in Tanzania in 2014.
Salem
Salem is associated with the Hebrew “shalom,” meaning “peaceful.” It also comes from the Arabic “salim,” meaning “complete” and “perfect.” Salem is the biblical name for the city of Jerusalem.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Safe
- Pronunciation: Saa-LEHM
- Variations: Salim
- Namesakes: Ali Salem, an Egyptian playwright known for the School of Troublemakers (1971). Pamela Salem, a British actress appearing in the ITV series Into the Labyrinth.
- Popularity: Salem ranked 475th worldwide, is mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 2nd in Libya in 2014.
Samir
Samir has many meanings, including “holy,” “jovial,” and “charming.” In Sanskrit, it means “gentle wind” and “fragrant morning breeze.” In Albanian, Samir refers to “someone you can have pleasant conversations with.”
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Friend
- Pronunciation: Saa-MIHR
- Variations: Sameer
- Namesakes: Saad Samir, an Egyptian footballer who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sandra Samir, an Egyptian tennis player and winner of the 2013 U-16 African Junior Tennis Championships.
- Popularity: Samir ranked 1,084th worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, ranking 13th in 2014.
Shafiq
Shafiq means “merciful” and “tender” in Arabic. It’s somewhat common in Egypt, more so as a boy’s name.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Compassionate
- Pronunciation: Shah-FIYK
- Variations: Shafeeq, Shafik, Shafique, Shafic
- Namesakes: Shaheen Shafiq, a Pakistani member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2008 to 2018. Azadeh Shafiq, an Iranian royal and a member of the Pahlavi dynasty.
- Popularity: Shafiq is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Pakistan, and ranked 1,322nd in Egypt in 2014.
Shamel
Shamel means “near” and “complete.” It’s also an Anglo version of the German Schamel. A shamel is a percussion instrument with origins in the Indian state of Goa.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Comprehensive
- Pronunciation: SHAA-mehl
- Namesakes: Frank Shamel, a basketball player for the Cincinnati Comellos.
- Popularity: Shamel is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Egypt.
Shokry
Shokry derives from the Arabic “shakar,” meaning “to give thanks” and “to be thankful.” As a first name, the female version is Shukriya or Shukria.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: My thanksgiving
- Pronunciation: SHOWK-riy
- Variations: Shukri, Shoukri, Shoukry, Shokri
- Namesakes: Abdel Rahman Shokry, an Egyptian poet known for “Flower of The Spring” in 1916. Mahmoud Shokry, a chief of staff of the Egyptian Army during the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty.
- Popularity: Shokry is rare worldwide and mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked 285th in 2014.
Soliman
Soliman represents the Arabic form of the Hebrew Solomon. Solomon was taken from Shelomo, from “shalom,” meaning “peace.” Soliman is used by both Muslims and Christians in Egypt.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Man of peace
- Pronunciation: SOHL-iy-maan
- Variations: Solomon, Soloman, Solomann
- Namesakes: Azza Soliman, an Egyptian women’s rights activist who co-founded the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance. Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian basketball player who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Soliman ranked 1,560th worldwide and is primarily used in Egypt, ranking 29th in 2014.
Sultan
Sultan is based on the Arabic “sulṭān,” the word for “ruler” or any Muslim sovereign. It was used by the Middle Eastern Khans and is associated with “salaṭa,” meaning “to be hard” and “strong.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Ruler
- Pronunciation: SAHL-Taen
- Variations: Sultani, Sultany
- Namesakes: Wafa Sultan, a Syrian-American writer who contributed to Al Jazeera’s program The Opposite Direction in 2006. Ameer Sultan, an Indian filmmaker who directed Sethu in 1999.
- Popularity: Sultan ranked 440th worldwide, is mostly used in Pakistan, and ranked 160th in Egypt in 2014.
Talaat
Little is known about Talaat as a surname, but it’s used as a Turkish boy’s name, meaning “face” or “sight.” It’s also given to girls and means “beauty.” Outside of Egypt, Talaat appears often in India and Iran.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Beauty
- Pronunciation: Taa-LAAT
- Variations: Talat, Tal’at
- Popularity: Talaat is rare worldwide and mainly used in Egypt, where it ranked 128th in 2014.
Tammam
Tammam comes from the Arabic “tamām,” meaning “complete,” “whole,” and “perfect.” It’s an antiquated surname that doesn’t appear much today.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Generous
- Pronunciation: Taa-MAAM
- Variations: Tamam
- Namesakes: Abū Tammām, an Arab poet known for the Kitab al-Hamasah book of poems. Abul Ashba ibn Tammam, a 14th-century chemist and one of the last in the line of Muslim chemists.
- Popularity: Tamman is rare worldwide, primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 671st in Bahrain in 2014.
Tharwat
Tharwat derives from the Arabic “tharwa,” meaning “treasure.” It’s pretty common in Egypt but very rare beyond Egyptian territory.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Wealth
- Pronunciation: THAAR-waht
- Variations: Sarwat
- Namesakes: Zubaida Tharwat, an Egyptian actress best known for The Guilty (1975).
- Popularity: Tharwat is rare worldwide and mostly used in Egypt, ranking 261st in 2014.
Thutmose
Thutmose was the name of four pharaohs during ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and it first appeared as Thoutmôsis. There are no popularity statistics for Thutmose as a surname and only 14 known instances worldwide as a first name in 2014.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Born of Thoth
- Pronunciation: Thoot-MOW-saa
- Variations: Thutmoses, Tuthmose, Tutmosis
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun is Egypt’s most famous ancient pharaoh, known as King Tut. His name means the “living image of Atun,” the Egyptian god of the air. This may have affected its original appearance as Tutankhaten.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Living image of Amun
- Pronunciation: TUWT-ehn-Kaa-MOON
- Variations: Tutankhamen, Tutankhamon
- Popularity: Tutankhamun is extremely rare worldwide with just nine known occurrences in 2014, mainly in Saudi Arabia.
Yehia
Yehia is associated with the Egyptian Yahya, meaning “given by God.” In Arabic, it means “he lives,” which represents its meaning as a boy’s name.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: YEH-iy-Ah
- Variations: Yehiya
- Namesakes: Tarek Yehia, an Egyptian footballer and current caretaker for Zamalek. Mohamed Yehia Zakaria, an Emirati-Egyptian businessman and co-founder of Dubai Refreshments (Pepsi).
- Popularity: Yehia is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 108th in 2014.
Younes
Younes means “dove” when based on the Hebrew “yoná” and “omen” when taken from the Greek “oiōnós.” It has the same meaning as the given name Yunes. Younes is also the name for the area between Scotland and England.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Dove
- Pronunciation: YUWNES
- Variations: Yunes
- Namesakes: Glenn Younes, an American sports radio personality on Baltimore’s 105.7 The Fan WJZ-FM. Nadia Younes, an Egyptian Deputy Spokeswoman for the Secretary-General of the UN from 1988 to 1993.
- Popularity: Younes is rare worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 138th in Libya in 2014.
Youssef
Youssef comes from Yusuf, the Arabic equivalent of Joseph. It goes back to the original Hebrew “Yehôsêph,” meaning “Yehowah has added” and “God will increase.”
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: God increases
- Pronunciation: YUW-Sehf
- Variations: Yousef, Yousif, Youssif, Yousuf, Yusef
- Namesakes: Ramy Youssef, an Egyptian handball player who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Maya Youssef, a Syrian musician who has performed on the BBC Proms.
- Popularity: Youssef ranked 1,098th worldwide and is mainly used in Egypt, ranking 40th in 2014.
Zaghloul
Zaghloul means “little soul” and “loved.” It’s associated with Zaghloul, the Sultan of Andalusia. His descendents ended up in Algeria and Egypt, which is why Zaghoul appears there. Other Zaghouls can be found in Jordan and Iraq.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Pure free soul
- Pronunciation: Zah-GOOWL
- Namesakes: Mohamed Zaghloul, an Egyptian wrestler who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Ali Faik Zaghloul, an Egyptian radio presenter called the “father of Egyptian radio variety shows.”
- Popularity: Zaghloul is rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 300th in 2014.
Zahir
Zahir is inspired by Aẓ-Ẓāhir, one of the names of God in Islam. It also means “evident” or “outer” and represents the outside world known to us, which we can shape.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Manifest
- Pronunciation: Zaa-HHIHR
- Variations: Zaheer
- Namesakes: Ahmad Zahir, an Afghan singer referred to as the “Elvis of Afghanistan.” Mohamed Zahir, the Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force from 1996 to 2008.
- Popularity: Zahir is uncommon worldwide, mostly used in Afghanistan, and ranked 23rd in the Maldives in 2014.
Zakaria
Zakaria originally appeared as the Arabic Zakariyyā, meaning “Yahweh remembers.” It’s used for multiple figures in the Bible’s Old Testament as the Hebrew Zechariah.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: God remembers
- Pronunciation: Zaa-KAH-riy-Ah
- Variations: Zakariyah, Zakarias
- Namesakes: Fareed Zakaria, an Indian-American journalist and host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS. Rafiq Zakaria, an Indian politician associated with the Indian independence movement.
- Popularity: Zakaria ranked 1,411th worldwide, is mainly used in Egypt, and ranked 14th in Chad in 2014.
Zaki
Zaki means “pure” when used as a boy’s name and appears as Zakiya for girls. Like other Egyptian family names, Zaki also has Hebrew origins. It means “full of virtue” in Arabic and “clear” in Hebrew.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Intelligent
- Pronunciation: Zah-KAEY
- Namesakes: Amadou Aboubakar Zaki, a Nigerian basketball player for Union Rennes Basket 35. Akram Zaki, the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs from April to September 1991.
- Popularity: Zaki ranked 1,407th worldwide and is primarily used in Egypt, ranking 54th in 2014.
Zaza
Zaza is found in the Books of Chronicles in the Bible, meaning “plenty.” It’s also a Hebrew girl’s name meaning “movement.” Zaza is a Northwest Iranic language used by Kurdish people in Eastern Turkey.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Belonging to all
- Pronunciation: ZAH-zaa
- Namesakes: Paul Zaza, a Canadian film score composer who won the Genie Award for Best Music Score in 1980. Hend Zaza, a Syrian table tennis player who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 2021.
- Popularity: Zaza is rare worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 249th in Liberia in 2014.
Zoheir
Zoheir is better known as a Quranic boy’s name meaning “little flower” and “blossom.” It’s based on the Arabic root “z-h-r,” which influenced many names that originated in the Quran.
- Origin: Egyptian, Arabic
- Meaning: Glare
- Pronunciation: ZOW-hare
- Variations: Zuhayr, Zuhair, Zohair, Zuheir
- Popularity: Zoheir is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Egypt.
Egyptian Family Names FAQs
Do Egyptians Have Last Names?
An Egyptian traditionally uses a personal name followed by two surnames, including that of their father and grandfather. In today’s world, more families simply use one family name instead of two. Often these last names begin with “El,” a definite article like “the” to indicate meanings like “the carpenter” or “the poet.”
What Is the Rarest Egyptian Last Name?
The rarest Egyptian last names are typically those of the ancient pharaohs. They don’t often occur today, except for a few instances. These names include Akhenaten, Khufu, Thutmose, Tutankhamun, and Ramses. They might occur more as first names but are still very rare.
The rarest of these is Meryaten, which means “strong bull.” No popularity statistics are available on Meryaten, meaning it’s very rare.
What’s the Most Common Last Name In Egypt?
Mohamed is the most common surname in Egypt, an alternate version of the first name, Mohammed or Muhammed. This particular spelling is found mainly in Egypt, where approximately 90% of Egyptians practice Islam (1). Mohamed means “praiseworthy” or “commendable” and originated with the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
Do Pharaohs Have Last Names?
Like some of the most famous celebrities today, ancient Egyptian pharaohs did not use last names. Whether you were a farmer or a king back then, you typically only had a single name. After all, we all know who Tutenkhaman was without needing a second name to go by!
