Malay Names

3,832 names

Names most common in the JPN data for the 2010s come first.

About this list

Names common among Malays and Islamic names used in Malaysia. Most come from Arabic, Persian or Malay, in Malaysian spellings such as Aishah, Syafiq and Mohd.

This category gathers names whose spellings are common among Malay speakers, and Islamic names used in Malaysia. Most come from Arabic, Persian or Malay. Malay names are written in the Latin alphabet with no official system, so one name can be spelled Aisyah or Aishah; common spellings have their own page and others are noted on it. Elements such as Nur, Siti and Abdul open many compound names and are explained on the name elements page. See the guide to choosing an Islamic name and the guide to name spellings. Categories exist only to help you browse: they describe a name and its spelling, not anyone’s ethnicity, religion or background.

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Frequently asked questions

Why does one Malay name have so many spellings?

Latin-alphabet spelling of Malay names has no official system, and Arabic letters have no one-to-one match in it, so the registering officer or the parents’ choice often decides. See the guide to name spellings.

Can Mohd be registered as a child’s name?

Bernama and Sinar Harian (26 March 2025) reported that abbreviations such as Mohd and Abd are not allowed for a child’s name; it must be written in full, for example Muhammad or Mohamad. See the JPN name registration rules.

What are bin and binti?

Bin means “son of” and binti “daughter of”, followed by the father’s name. Many people do not say it in daily life. Our name pages deal with the given name.

Names are shared across communities. The categories on this site are for browsing only: they describe a name and its spelling, not anyone’s ethnicity, religion or background.