Names of Allah

By the Names.Contact Editorial Team · Updated September 2026 · 110 names

Names of Allah

“To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them,” says Surah al-A‘raf of the Quran. These are the Asma ul Husna, the Most Beautiful Names, and a well-known hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim says that Allah has ninety-nine names, a hundred less one. Each describes an attribute of God: His mercy, His knowledge, His justice, His power.

Below you’ll find all 99 names in the traditional order recorded by al-Tirmidhi, with Arabic script, a common English transliteration and a short meaning. Translations vary between scholars, so treat the English as a guide to the Arabic rather than a replacement. At the end, we explain how these names shape Muslim boy names such as Abdullah and Abdul Rahman. For the wider tradition, see our Muslim names and Arabic names guides.

Our top picks: Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, As-Salam, Al-Wadud, Al-Latif, An-Nur, Al-Hadi, Al-Karim, As-Sabur, Al-Hakim

Names 1–20: Mercy, sovereignty and creation

The list opens with the two names recited at the start of almost every chapter of the Quran, Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, before turning to Allah as King and Creator.

NameArabicMeaning
Ar-RahmanالرحمنThe Most Gracious, the Entirely Merciful
Ar-RahimالرحيمThe Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Al-MalikالملكThe King, the Sovereign
Al-QuddusالقدوسThe Most Holy, the Pure
As-SalamالسلامThe Source of Peace and Perfection
Al-Mu’minالمؤمنThe Giver of Faith and Security
Al-MuhayminالمهيمنThe Guardian, the Overseer
Al-AzizالعزيزThe Almighty, the Honorable
Al-JabbarالجبارThe Compeller, the Restorer
Al-MutakabbirالمتكبرThe Supreme in Greatness
Al-KhaliqالخالقThe Creator
Al-Bari’البارئThe Originator, the Maker from Nothing
Al-MusawwirالمصورThe Fashioner of Forms
Al-GhaffarالغفارThe Ever-Forgiving
Al-QahharالقهارThe Subduer, the All-Prevailing
Al-WahhabالوهابThe Bestower of Gifts
Ar-RazzaqالرزاقThe Provider
Al-FattahالفتاحThe Opener, the Judge
Al-AlimالعليمThe All-Knowing
Al-QabidالقابضThe Withholder

Names 21–40: Justice, knowledge and forbearance

These names pair opposites (the One who lowers and raises, honors and humbles) to express that all outcomes come from God.

NameArabicMeaning
Al-BasitالباسطThe Extender, the Giver in Abundance
Al-KhafidالخافضThe Abaser, the One Who Lowers
Ar-Rafi’الرافعThe Exalter, the One Who Raises
Al-Mu’izzالمعزThe Giver of Honor
Al-MudhillالمذلThe Giver of Dishonor
As-Sami’السميعThe All-Hearing
Al-BasirالبصيرThe All-Seeing
Al-HakamالحكمThe Judge, the Arbiter
Al-AdlالعدلThe Utterly Just
Al-LatifاللطيفThe Subtle, the Most Gentle
Al-KhabirالخبيرThe All-Aware
Al-HalimالحليمThe Most Forbearing
Al-AzimالعظيمThe Magnificent
Al-GhafurالغفورThe All-Forgiving
Ash-ShakurالشكورThe Most Appreciative
Al-AliyyالعليThe Most High
Al-KabirالكبيرThe Most Great
Al-HafizالحفيظThe Preserver, the Protector
Al-MuqitالمقيتThe Sustainer, the Nourisher
Al-HasibالحسيبThe Reckoner, the Sufficient

Names 41–60: Generosity, love and truth

Among these are Al-Wadud, the Loving, and Al-Haqq, the Truth, a name Sufi poets returned to again and again.

NameArabicMeaning
Al-JalilالجليلThe Majestic
Al-KarimالكريمThe Most Generous
Ar-RaqibالرقيبThe Watchful
Al-MujibالمجيبThe Responsive, the Answerer of Prayers
Al-Wasi’الواسعThe All-Encompassing, the Boundless
Al-HakimالحكيمThe All-Wise
Al-WadudالودودThe Most Loving
Al-MajeedالمجيدThe Most Glorious
Al-Ba’ithالباعثThe Resurrector
Ash-ShahidالشهيدThe Witness
Al-HaqqالحقThe Truth, the Real
Al-WakilالوكيلThe Trustee, the Disposer of Affairs
Al-QawiyyالقويThe Most Strong
Al-MatinالمتينThe Firm, the Steadfast
Al-WaliyyالوليThe Protecting Friend
Al-HamidالحميدThe Praiseworthy
Al-MuhsiالمحصيThe Accounter, the Knower of Every Detail
Al-Mubdi’المبدئThe Originator, the Initiator
Al-Mu’idالمعيدThe Restorer, the Reproducer
Al-MuhyiالمحييThe Giver of Life

Names 61–80: Life, oneness and eternity

This group includes Al-Ahad and As-Samad, the names at the heart of Surah al-Ikhlas (Quran 112), which declares God’s absolute oneness.

NameArabicMeaning
Al-MumitالمميتThe Bringer of Death
Al-HayyالحيThe Ever-Living
Al-QayyumالقيومThe Self-Subsisting Sustainer of All
Al-WajidالواجدThe Perceiver, the Finder
Al-MaajidالماجدThe Illustrious, the Noble
Al-WahidالواحدThe One
Al-AhadالأحدThe Unique, the Indivisible
As-SamadالصمدThe Eternal Refuge
Al-QadirالقادرThe All-Capable
Al-MuqtadirالمقتدرThe All-Powerful Determiner
Al-MuqaddimالمقدمThe Expediter, the One Who Brings Forward
Al-Mu’akhkhirالمؤخرThe Delayer, the One Who Puts Back
Al-AwwalالأولThe First
Al-AkhirالآخرThe Last
Az-ZahirالظاهرThe Manifest
Al-BatinالباطنThe Hidden, the Inner
Al-WaliالواليThe Governor, the Patron
Al-Muta’aliالمتعاليThe Most Exalted
Al-BarrالبرThe Source of All Goodness
At-TawwabالتوابThe Ever-Accepting of Repentance

Names 81–99: Pardon, light and patience

The list closes with names of guidance and light (An-Nur inspired the famous “Light Verse,” Quran 24:35) and ends with As-Sabur, the Most Patient.

NameArabicMeaning
Al-MuntaqimالمنتقمThe Avenger, the Requiter
Al-AfuwwالعفوThe Pardoner, the Effacer of Sins
Ar-Ra’ufالرؤوفThe Most Kind, the Compassionate
Malik-ul-Mulkمالك الملكOwner of All Sovereignty
Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikramذو الجلال والإكرامLord of Majesty and Generosity
Al-MuqsitالمقسطThe Equitable, the Requiter
Al-Jami’الجامعThe Gatherer, the Uniter
Al-GhaniyyالغنيThe Self-Sufficient, the Wealthy
Al-MughniالمغنيThe Enricher
Al-Mani’المانعThe Preventer of Harm, the Defender
Ad-DarrالضارThe Distresser (the One who allows harm)
An-Nafi’النافعThe Benefactor, the Giver of Benefit
An-NurالنورThe Light
Al-HadiالهاديThe Guide
Al-Badi’البديعThe Incomparable Originator
Al-BaqiالباقيThe Everlasting
Al-WarithالوارثThe Inheritor of All
Ar-RashidالرشيدThe Guide to the Right Path
As-SaburالصبورThe Most Patient

Muslim names built on the names of Allah

Muslim parents often honor these attributes by naming a son Abd (“servant of”) plus one of the names. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said the names most beloved to Allah are Abdullah and Abdul Rahman (Sahih Muslim). You’ll find many more in our Arabic boy names.

NameArabicMeaning
Abdullahعبد اللهServant of God
Abdul Rahmanعبد الرحمنServant of the Most Gracious
Abdul Rahimعبد الرحيمServant of the Most Merciful
Abdul Malikعبد الملكServant of the King
Abdul Azizعبد العزيزServant of the Almighty
Abdul Karimعبد الكريمServant of the Most Generous
Abdul Latifعبد اللطيفServant of the Most Gentle
Abdul Wahhabعبد الوهابServant of the Bestower
Abdul Hadiعبد الهاديServant of the Guide
Abdul Qadirعبد القادرServant of the All-Capable
Abdus Salamعبد السلامServant of the Source of Peace

Using the names of Allah in prayer and in naming

  • Call upon the fitting name. Many Muslims address God by the attribute that matches their need: Ar-Razzaq when seeking provision, Al-Ghaffar when seeking forgiveness, Al-Hadi when seeking guidance.
  • Add “Abd” for a child’s name. Names such as Ar-Rahman, Al-Khaliq and Al-Quddus belong to Allah alone, so they are given to people only in the form Abdul Rahman, Abdul Khaliq and so on.
  • Some attributes work without “al-”. Karim, Rashid, Hadi, Latif and Aziz are widely used as given names on their own, because the definite article “al-” is what reserves the absolute sense for God.
  • Learn them gradually. Many families memorize ten names a week, using nasheeds or printed cards; the hadith speaks of great reward for those who come to know them.
  • Check transliteration. Spellings differ (Rahim, Raheem; Aziz, Azeez), so choose one and keep it consistent on official documents.

Frequently asked questions

How many names does Allah have?

A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim mentions ninety-nine names, but many scholars hold that Allah has more names than these, some known only to Him.

What is the first name of Allah in the 99 names?

In the common list recorded by al-Tirmidhi, the first is Ar-Rahman, “the Most Gracious,” followed by Ar-Rahim, “the Most Merciful.”

What does Asma ul Husna mean?

It is Arabic for “the Most Beautiful Names,” a phrase taken from the Quran (7:180, 17:110, 20:8 and 59:24).

Can I name my child after a name of Allah?

Yes, usually with “Abd” (servant) in front, as in Abdul Karim. Some attributes such as Karim or Hadi are also used alone without the article “al-.”

Is the list of 99 names in the Quran?

Most of the names appear in the Quran, but the specific numbered list comes from hadith collections, and different narrations vary slightly.