Islamic names
Names of prophets
37 names
37 names connected with Islamic history and tradition. The connection describes the name, not the bearer’s faith. See also all Islamic names.
| No. | Name | Arabic | English form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Âdem | آدم | Adam |
| 2 | İdris | إدريس | Idris |
| 3 | Nuh | نوح | Nuh (Noah) |
| 4 | Hud | هود | Hud |
| 5 | Salih | صالح | Salih |
| 6 | İbrahim | إبراهيم | Ibrahim (Abraham) |
| 7 | Lut | لوط | Lut (Lot) |
| 8 | İsmail | إسماعيل | Ismail (Ishmael) |
| 9 | İshak | إسحاق | Ishaq (Isaac) |
| 10 | Yakup | يعقوب | Yaqub (Jacob) |
| 11 | Yusuf | يوسف | Yusuf (Joseph) |
| 12 | Eyüp | أيوب | Ayyub (Job) |
| 13 | Şuayp | شعيب | Shuayb |
| 14 | Musa | موسى | Musa (Moses) |
| 15 | Harun | هارون | Harun (Aaron) |
| 16 | Davut | داود | Dawud (David) |
| 17 | Süleyman | سليمان | Sulayman (Solomon) |
| 18 | İlyas | إلياس | Ilyas (Elijah) |
| 19 | Elyesa | اليسع | Al-Yasa (Elisha) |
| 20 | Zülkifl | ذو الكفل | Dhul-Kifl |
| 21 | Yunus | يونس | Yunus (Jonah) |
| 22 | Zekeriyya | زكريا | Zakariya (Zechariah) |
| 23 | Yahya | يحيى | Yahya (John the Baptist) |
| 24 | İsa | عيسى | Isa (Jesus) |
| 25 | Muhammed | محمد | Muhammad |
Names of prophets: list with meanings
- Yusuf♂May God add
- Mehmet♂Much praised
- İbrahim♂Traditionally, father of many peoples
- Muhammed♂Much praised
- İsmail♂God has heard
- Süleyman♂A name associated with peace and well-being
- Adem♂Human being
- Salih♂Good, virtuous, righteous
- Yakup♂Associated with the heel
- Muhammet♂Much praised
- Yunus♂Dove
- Musa♂The name of the prophet Moses
- Harun♂The name of Aaron
- Yahya♂The prophet Yahya's name
- Eyüp♂The name of the prophet Job
- İsa♂The name of Jesus
- İlyas♂My God is Yahweh
- İshak♂He will laugh
- Davut♂Beloved, dearly loved
- Zekeriya♂God has remembered
- İdris♂A prophet named in the Quran
- Mehmed♂Much praised
- Elyesa♂My God is salvation
- Eyyüp♂The name of the prophet Job
- Nuh♂Rest, repose
- Şuayip♂Small branch
- Yakub♂Associated with the heel
- Zülküf♂Possessor of a share or responsibility
- Davud♂Beloved, dearly loved
- Eyyüb♂The name of the prophet Job
- Lut♂The name of the prophet Lot
- Muhamed♂Much praised
- Muhamet♂Much praised
- Eyüb♂The name of the prophet Job
- Hud♂The name of a prophet in the Quran
- Şuayib♂Small branch
- Zekeriyya♂God has remembered
Guide
Understanding prophetic names in Turkish usage
This collection contains 37 name entries connected with figures in Islamic history, including Turkish forms associated with prophets. When exploring names of prophets, read the spelling, meaning and historical association separately; the label never establishes a present-day bearer’s faith.
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Entries are not a count of prophets
The collection total counts name entries. Related forms can have separate entries, so the total should not be read as a theological claim.
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Turkish forms matter
A Turkish spelling may differ from the form familiar to English readers. Keep the displayed name when comparing entries.
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Meaning and association differ
Some definitions give a word meaning; others identify a prophetic name. Read the wording as given rather than filling in an assumed etymology.
Recognize names across language contexts
Readers looking for names of prophets in Turkish may recognize an association more readily than the written form. Yunus means “dove; the name of the prophet Jonah,” while Musa is defined as “the name of the prophet Moses.” Harun means “the name of Aaron.” These entries offer useful points of comparison for English readers. Preserve the Turkish form when making notes, and distinguish an identification such as “the name of Aaron” from a separate claim about the word’s literal root meaning.
Compare related forms without merging entries
Closely related forms still deserve separate attention. Muhammed and Muhammet are both recorded with the meaning “much praised; repeatedly praised,” while Mehmet means “much praised; worthy of praise.” Keep the spellings and definitions paired as shown instead of treating the entries as interchangeable text. Their presence also explains why a collection of name forms should not be read as a count of distinct historical figures. The useful comparison is between entries, their wording and their associations, without drawing conclusions about anyone who bears them.
Keep qualifications in the meaning
Some meanings explicitly signal a traditional interpretation or an association. İbrahim means “traditionally, father of many peoples,” and Süleyman means “a name associated with peace and well-being.” Retaining those qualifications is more accurate than presenting every definition as an equally certain literal translation. Salih means “good, virtuous, righteous,” but those words define the name rather than assess a bearer’s conduct. Historical and religious context can help explain an entry without becoming a statement about a living person’s beliefs or character.
Ways to compare prophetic name forms
- Save the Turkish spelling beside any familiar English equivalent.
- Keep related forms as separate entries in your notes.
- Preserve words such as “traditionally” and “associated with” in quoted meanings.
- Do not read the collection total as a count of distinct prophets.
- Separate a name’s historical association from a bearer’s personal beliefs.
Frequently asked questions
Does this list say there are 37 prophets?
No. It contains 37 name entries connected with figures in Islamic history. Entry totals and counts of distinct prophets are different things.
Does bearing a prophet’s name show someone is Muslim?
No. The association belongs to the name and cannot establish the bearer’s religion, sect or religious practice.
Why do some meanings identify a prophet rather than translate a word?
The supplied definition may identify the name’s association rather than offer a literal root meaning. Musa, for example, is defined here as “the name of the prophet Moses.”
What does Yusuf mean here?
Yusuf means “may God add; may God increase” and has Hebrew and Arabic origin labels. Those labels concern linguistic roots, not the bearer’s identity.