ألف

Alif

boyArabic

Alif is a Muslim boy name meaning “The first letter of the Arabic alphabet”.

MeaningThe first letter of the Arabic alphabet
GenderBoy
OriginArabic
Arabic spellingألف
PronunciationAH-lif
Arabic rootأ ل ف (ʾ-l-f) — to be familiar, to join
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Alif

Alif is the name of the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, the upright stroke that begins the word Allah. As a given name it suggests being first, upright and straight. It is especially popular in Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and the Urdu phrase 'alif se' (from alif) means from the very beginning.

Is Alif a Muslim name?

Yes. Alif is used as a Muslim name; it is the first letter of the Arabic script in which the Quran is written. Several surahs open with the letters Alif Lam Mim.

Is Alif in the Quran?

Surah al-Baqarah begins with the separate letters 'Alif, Lam, Mim' (Quran 2:1).

Where is the name Alif used?

Mostly found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Gifts with the name Alif

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Spellings and variants of Alif

AleefAlef

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More boy names like Alif

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Alif mean?

Alif means 'The first letter of the Arabic alphabet'. It comes from Arabic.

Is Alif a Muslim name?

Yes. Alif is used as a Muslim name; it is the first letter of the Arabic script in which the Quran is written. Several surahs open with the letters Alif Lam Mim.

How do you write Alif in Arabic?

Alif is written ألف in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Alif?

Alif is pronounced AH-lif.

Is Alif mentioned in the Quran?

Surah al-Baqarah begins with the separate letters 'Alif, Lam, Mim' (Quran 2:1).

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.