Somali Names: A Guide to Spelling and Meaning
Updated October 2026 · Modern Muslim Names
Somali names can look unfamiliar to outsiders because of the Somali Latin alphabet, adopted in 1972. Once you know a few letters, most Arabic-origin Somali names become easy to recognise.
Three letters to know
X stands for the Arabic ḥ sound, so Muhammad is written Maxamed. C stands for the Arabic ʿayn, so ʿAbdi is written Cabdi. Dh is a retroflex d sound used in Somali words.
The “-o” ending for girls
Many native Somali girls' names end in -o: Hibo (gift), Hodan and Ubah (flower) are typical examples.
Popular Somali boy names
| Name | Meaning | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Aadan | Prophet Ādam, first man | آدم |
| Abas | Stern, lion-like | عباس |
| Abdalla | Servant of God | عبد الله |
| Abdi | Servant (of God) | عبدي |
| Abdiaziz | Servant of the Almighty | عبد العزيز |
| Abdifatah | Servant of the Opener | عبد الفتاح |
| Abdihakim | Servant of the All-Wise | عبد الحكيم |
| Abdikadir | Servant of the All-Powerful | عبد القادر |
| Abdikarim | Servant of the Most Generous | عبد الكريم |
| Abdinasir | Servant of the Helper | عبد الناصر |
| Abdirahim | Servant of the Most Compassionate | عبد الرحيم |
| Abdirahman | Servant of the Most Merciful | عبد الرحمن |
| Abdirashid | Servant of the Rightly Guiding | عبد الرشيد |
| Abdisalam | Servant of the Source of Peace | عبد السلام |
| Abdishakur | Servant of the Most Appreciative | عبد الشكور |
| Abdiwali | Servant of the Protecting Friend | عبد الولي |
| Abdul-Nur | Servant of the Light | عبد النور |
| Abdul-Raqib | Servant of the Ever-Watchful | عبد الرقيب |
| Abdul-Rasheed | Servant of the Guide to the Right Path | عبد الرشيد |
| Abdul-Rashid | Servant of the Rightly Guiding | عبد الرشيد |
| Abdul-Salam | Servant of the Source of Peace | عبد السلام |
| Abdul-Shakoor | Servant of the Most Appreciative | عبد الشكور |
| Abdul-Shakur | Servant of the Most Appreciative | عبد الشكور |
| Abdul-Wahid | Servant of the One | عبد الواحد |
Popular Somali girl names
| Name | Meaning | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Abiir | Fragrance, perfume | عبير |
| Amaal | Hopes, aspirations | آمال |
| Amino | Safe, trustworthy, secure | آمنة |
| Anab | Grapes | عنب |
| Asha | Life, living | عائشة |
| Aslı | Genuine, original, real | أصلي |
| Aslı | Genuine, original, real | أصلي |
| Aziza | Precious, beloved, honoured | عزيزة |
| Barkhado | Blessed one, bringer of blessing | |
| Barwaaqo | Prosperity, abundance after rain | |
| Bilaan | Beauty, beautiful | |
| Bilan | Beauty, beautiful | |
| Caasha | Living, full of life | عائشة |
| Cambaro | Ambergris; precious fragrance | عنبر |
| Casho | Living, full of life | عائشة |
| Cawo | Good fortune, luck | |
| Dahabo | Gold, golden | |
| Deeqa | Gift, generosity, bounty | |
| Deeqo | Gift, generosity | |
| Deqa | Gift, generosity, bounty | |
| Faadumo | One who weans; abstaining | فاطمة |
| Faduma | One who weans; abstaining | فاطمة |
| Fadumo | One who weans; one who abstains | فاطمة |
| Faiso | Successful, victorious | فائزة |
See all Somali Muslim names.