Besim
Besim is a Muslim boy name meaning “Smiling, cheerful”.
| Meaning | Smiling, cheerful |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Bosnian / Albanian / Turkish form of Arabic Basim |
| Arabic spelling | باسم |
| Pronunciation | BEH-sim |
| Arabic root | ب س م (b-s-m) — to smile |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Besim
Besim is the Balkan and Turkish adaptation of the Arabic bāsim, 'smiling', the active participle of basama, to smile. The root b-s-m is also the source of ibtisāma, a smile, of the boy's name Bassam, 'one who smiles often', and of the girl's name Ibtisam. A bāsim is someone whose face shows warmth and cheerfulness, and a well-known hadith counts a smile offered to one's brother as an act of charity, which gives the name a pleasant moral association. Some older name lists translate Besim as 'faith' or 'believer', but that meaning is mistaken.
When Arabic names entered Ottoman Turkish, their vowels were often shifted to suit Turkish pronunciation, and the long a of Bāsim became e, so the name settled as Besim. From Turkish it passed into Bosnian and Albanian, and today it is a well-established men's name among Bosniaks, among Albanians in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, and among Turks. It is pronounced BEH-sim, with the stress on the first syllable. In the Arab world the same name is written Basim or Basem, while Bassem is usually the closely related Bassam pronounced in the Egyptian or Levantine way.
Is Besim a Muslim name?
Yes. Besim is a Muslim name, the Balkan and Turkish form of the Arabic Basim, meaning smiling.
Where is the name Besim used?
Common in Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania and Turkey.
Gifts with the name Besim
- Besim name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Besim baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a small commission from these links, at no extra cost to you.
Spellings and variants of Besim
Read more
More boy names like Besim
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Besim mean?
Besim means 'Smiling, cheerful'. It comes from Bosnian / Albanian / Turkish form of Arabic Basim.
Is Besim a Muslim name?
Yes. Besim is a Muslim name, the Balkan and Turkish form of the Arabic Basim, meaning smiling.
How do you write Besim in Arabic?
Besim is written باسم in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Besim?
Besim is pronounced BEH-sim.
What is the female form of Besim?
The Arabic feminine is Basima (باسمة), meaning smiling; in Turkish and Balkan usage it appears as Besima or Besime.
Is Besim the same as Bassam?
They share the same root and both relate to smiling, but Basim means smiling while Bassam means one who smiles often.