Maxamed
Maxamed is a Muslim boy name meaning “Praised, praiseworthy”.
| Meaning | Praised, praiseworthy |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Somali form of Muhammad |
| Arabic spelling | محمد |
| Pronunciation | mah-HAH-med |
| Arabic root | ح م د (ḥ-m-d) — praise |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Maxamed
Maxamed is the name Muhammad written in the official Somali Latin alphabet. Its Arabic root ḥ-m-d means praise, and Muḥammad is the intensive form for someone who is praised again and again, or worthy of great praise. The unusual look of the spelling comes from Somali orthography: the letter 'x' represents the breathy Arabic ḥ, so Maxamed is read much like 'Mahamed', and the middle vowel is written 'e' to match everyday Somali speech. The meaning is exactly that of Muhammad, the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
Somali adopted its Latin script in 1972, and since then Maxamed has been the standard way to write the name in Somalia, Somaliland and Djibouti, although the same people often use Mohamed or Mohammed on international documents. It is among the most common male names in the Somali world, and because Somalis traditionally use a chain of given names (own name, father's, grandfather's), it frequently appears in the middle or end of a person's full name too. Related Somali forms include Maxamuud (Mahmud), which comes from the same root.
Famous people named Maxamed
- Maxamed Siyaad Barre — President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991
- Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan — early twentieth-century leader of the Dervish movement, often called the 'Mad Mullah' by the British
- Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo — President of Somalia from 2017 to 2022
Is Maxamed a Muslim name?
Yes. Maxamed is a Muslim name. It is simply the Somali spelling of Muhammad, the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
Is Maxamed in the Quran?
The name Muhammad appears four times in the Quran, for example 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah' (Quran 48:29).
Where is the name Maxamed used?
Extremely common in Somalia, Somaliland and Djibouti.
Gifts with the name Maxamed
- Maxamed name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Maxamed baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Maxamed
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More boy names like Maxamed
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maxamed mean?
Maxamed means 'Praised, praiseworthy'. It comes from Somali form of Muhammad.
Is Maxamed a Muslim name?
Yes. Maxamed is a Muslim name. It is simply the Somali spelling of Muhammad, the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
How do you write Maxamed in Arabic?
Maxamed is written محمد in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Maxamed?
Maxamed is pronounced mah-HAH-med.
Is Maxamed mentioned in the Quran?
The name Muhammad appears four times in the Quran, for example 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah' (Quran 48:29).
Why is Muhammad spelled Maxamed in Somali?
In Somali spelling, 'x' stands for the Arabic letter ḥ, so Maxamed is the Somali way of writing Muhammad. It is pronounced much like Mahamed.
Is Maxamed the same as Maxamuud?
No. Maxamuud is the Somali spelling of Mahmud, a different name from the same root of praise.