مرتضى

Muritala

boyArabic, Yoruba / Hausa form

Muritala is a Muslim boy name meaning “Chosen, one who is pleasing”.

MeaningChosen, one who is pleasing
GenderBoy
OriginArabic, Yoruba / Hausa form
Arabic spellingمرتضى
Pronunciationmoo-ree-TAH-lah
Arabic rootر ض و (r-ḍ-w) — to be pleased
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Muritala

Muritala is the Nigerian form of Murtaḍā, 'chosen' or 'one with whom God is pleased', a title associated with ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib. The emphatic ḍ becomes l, as in Rilwan, and an extra vowel separates the consonants. Murtala Mohammed, Nigeria's head of state in 1975-76, made the name famous.

Is Muritala a Muslim name?

Yes. Muritala is the Nigerian form of Murtada, an Arabic name and a title of ʿAli ibn Abi Talib.

Where is the name Muritala used?

Common among Yoruba and Hausa Muslims in Nigeria.

Gifts with the name Muritala

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Spellings and variants of Muritala

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More boy names like Muritala

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Muritala mean?

Muritala means 'Chosen, one who is pleasing'. It comes from Arabic, Yoruba / Hausa form.

Is Muritala a Muslim name?

Yes. Muritala is the Nigerian form of Murtada, an Arabic name and a title of ʿAli ibn Abi Talib.

How do you write Muritala in Arabic?

Muritala is written مرتضى in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Muritala?

Muritala is pronounced moo-ree-TAH-lah.

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