Boy name
Abdal name meaning
“dervish; a spiritual rank in Sufism”
Abdal means “dervish” or a holder of a spiritual rank in Sufi terminology. It comes from Arabic abdāl, a plural word meaning substitutes or those who take another’s place. Used as a masculine name in Türkiye, it also appears in the literary name of the poet Kaygusuz Abdal.
What does Abdal mean?
Dervish; a spiritual rank in Sufism
In Turkish: derviş; tasavvufta manevî mertebe sahibi
Abdal appears in Turkish historical writing and folk literature as a name or title associated with Sufism. Historical designations such as Abdal Musa and Kaygusuz Abdal illustrate that usage. Because the word also functions as a title and community designation, each occurrence needs context before being treated as an independent birth name.
Origin of the name Abdal
Abdal comes from Arabic abdāl, a plural meaning substitutes or those who take another's place. As a Sufi term it denotes a spiritual category, and in Turkish it also became a dervish title and personal name.
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
How to pronounce Abdal
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /abdal/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | ابدال |
| Arabic | أبدال |
Is Abdal a boy’s name?
Yes, Abdal is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Abdal does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Abdal
Names with related meanings
FAQ about the name Abdal
What is the meaning of Abdal?
Abdal means “dervish; a spiritual rank in Sufism”. Abdal comes from Arabic abdāl, a plural meaning substitutes or those who take another's place. As a Sufi term it denotes a spiritual category, and in Turkish it also became a dervish title and personal name.
Is Abdal a boy’s name?
Yes, Abdal is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Abdal in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Abdal nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Abdal?
Abdal is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Abdal have?
Abdal has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Abdal?
Abdal does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm04144 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake