Write your name in Arabic
Type any name and see it in Arabic script straight away — with every letter named, the meaning where there is one, and an image you can save.
How your name is written in Arabic
Arabic doesn't translate names — it re-spells them. The sounds of your name are mapped onto the nearest Arabic letters, then written right to left in a script where most letters change shape depending on what sits beside them. That's why سارة (Sarah) looks nothing like a letter-for-letter swap.
Two things surprise people the first time they see it. The first is length: Arabic writes long vowels with a letter but leaves short vowels to small marks called harakat, which everyday writing simply drops. The second is the missing sounds — there is no P and no V in Arabic, so they borrow the closest neighbours. Toggle the vowel marks above to see the difference between how a name is written and how it's pronounced.
Sounds that don't cross over
| English sound | Written as | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| P | ب | Arabic has no P. Paul becomes بول (Boul). |
| V | ف | No V either. Victor becomes فيكتور (Fiktor). |
| G (as in "go") | غ / ج | Written غ or ج depending on the country. |
| X | كس | Split into two letters: Max becomes ماكس. |
| CH | تش | Also two letters: Charlotte becomes تشارلوت. |
Popular Arabic names and what they mean
If you're choosing an Arabic name rather than transliterating your own, these are among the most common — each one carrying a meaning that's still transparent to a native speaker.
Boys' names
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad | محمد | Praiseworthy |
| Ahmed | أحمد | Most praiseworthy |
| Ali | علي | Exalted, noble |
| Omar | عمر | Flourishing, long-lived |
| Othman | عثمان | Wise |
| Hassan | حسن | Handsome, good |
| Hussein | حسين | Little handsome one |
| Ibrahim | إبراهيم | Abraham — father of many |
| Yusuf | يوسف | Joseph |
| Khalid | خالد | Eternal |
| Bilal | بلال | Moisture, water |
| Karim | كريم | Generous |
| Rashid | راشد | Rightly guided |
| Tariq | طارق | Morning star |
| Ziad | زياد | Growth, abundance |
| Adam | آدم | Adam — the first man |
| Amir | أمير | Prince, commander |
| Anas | أنس | Friendliness |
| Ayman | أيمن | Blessed, fortunate |
| Bassam | بسام | Smiling |
Girls' names
| Name | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fatima | فاطمة | One who weans; the Prophet’s daughter |
| Aisha | عائشة | Alive, thriving |
| Khadija | خديجة | Early born |
| Maryam | مريم | Mary |
| Zainab | زينب | A fragrant flowering tree |
| Amina | آمنة | Trustworthy, secure |
| Layla | ليلى | Night |
| Salma | سلمى | Peaceful |
| Sara | سارة | Princess |
| Huda | هدى | Guidance |
| Hana | هناء | Happiness, bliss |
| Rania | رانيا | Gazing |
| Dina | دينا | Judged, vindicated |
| Lina | لينا | Tender, gentle |
| Mona | منى | Wishes, desires |
| Nadia | نادية | Caller, announcer |
| Reem | ريم | White gazelle |
| Rana | رنا | To gaze at something beautiful |
| Sana | سناء | Radiance, brilliance |
| Yasmin | ياسمين | Jasmine |
Before you get it engraved
Arabic script joins. Each letter has up to four shapes depending on whether it starts, sits inside, or ends a word, and a handful of letters never join to the letter after them. Design software that doesn't handle Arabic shaping will render your name as a row of disconnected isolated letters — technically the right characters, obviously wrong to anyone who reads Arabic. Always copy the text with the copy button rather than retyping it, and have a native speaker glance at the final artwork.
Want to read the letters rather than just recognise them? The Arabic alphabet trainer walks through all 28 with their forms and sounds, and the guide to the Arabic alphabet explains how the joining rules work.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an accurate way to write my name in Arabic?
Yes, for the common cases. 260 Arabic spellings covering 313 name variants are stored explicitly — the spelling an Arabic newspaper or a passport office would actually use. Any other name is spelled phonetically using the same rules Arabic speakers apply to foreign names, and the tool labels which of the two you're looking at.
Why does my name look shorter in Arabic than in English?
Arabic normally writes long vowels only. Short vowels are marked with small symbols called harakat that are left out of everyday writing, so "Robert" becomes روبرت — four letters carrying six English ones. Turn on vowel marks in the tool to see the full pronunciation.
Why is there no P or V in my name?
Arabic has no letter for P or V. Speakers substitute the nearest sound: P becomes ب (b) and V becomes ف (f). So Paul is written بول and Victor is written فيكتور. Some writers use the Persian letters پ and ڤ, but they are not part of standard Arabic.
Can I use this for a tattoo or engraving?
You can, but check it with a native speaker first. Arabic letters change shape depending on their position in a word, and copying the text into design software that does not support Arabic shaping can break the joins — a common and permanent mistake. Copy the text with the button above rather than retyping it.
Does the tool give my name an Arabic meaning?
It shows a meaning when your name is Arabic in origin, or when it has a well-established Arabic counterpart — Joseph and يوسف, for example. Purely phonetic spellings of foreign names carry no meaning in Arabic; they are just the sounds.
How do I type Arabic to write it myself?
Use the free Arabic keyboard on this site. You can click the on-screen keys or type with your own keyboard, add vowel marks, and copy the result.