Unisex name
Tafdil name meaning
“preference; judging one superior to another”
Tafdil means “preference” or “judging one superior to another” and is used for both girls and boys in Türkiye. It comes from Arabic tafḍīl, formed from a root expressing superiority or increase. A concrete linguistic association is the grammatical term ism-i tafdil, used in discussing comparative and superlative forms.
What does Tafdil mean?
Preference; judging one superior to another
In Turkish: üstün sayma, birini diğerine yeğleme
Tafdil denotes an act of preference or comparison between alternatives. It occurs in older writing in contexts of ranking, and related terminology appears in Arabic grammar. As a name, its lexical content concerns an evaluative act; it does not state that the bearer is superior to other people.
Origin of the name Tafdil
Arabic tafḍīl derives from the f-ḍ-l root associated with superiority and excellence. It denotes preferring or ranking one thing above another.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran |
| Is Tafdil in the Quran? | As a word · تفضيلا · 17:21, 17:70The Arabic source word tafḍīl occurs in the Quran expressing preference or distinction, rather than functioning as a personal name. |
| Starts with | T · Ta |
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 Tafdil
| Syllables | 2 · 6 letters · 6-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /tafdil/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | تفضيل |
Is Tafdil a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Tafdil is used for both boys and girls. See all unisex names.
Tafdil does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Tafdil
FAQ about the name Tafdil
What is the meaning of Tafdil?
Tafdil means “preference; judging one superior to another”. Arabic tafḍīl derives from the f-ḍ-l root associated with superiority and excellence. It denotes preferring or ranking one thing above another.
Is Tafdil a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Tafdil is used for both boys and girls.
Is Tafdil in the Quran?
As a word. The Arabic source word tafḍīl occurs in the Quran expressing preference or distinction, rather than functioning as a personal name. (e.g.: 17:21, 17:70)
What is the origin of the name Tafdil?
Tafdil is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Tafdil have?
Tafdil has 2 syllables and 6 letters.
How popular is the name Tafdil?
Tafdil 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: nm09776 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake