Abdullah
A classic Arabic name meaning “servant of God,” used as a surname in many Muslim communities.
The #4,272 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,136 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Abdullah comes from Arabic ʿAbd Allāh, meaning “servant of God” or “slave of God.” It is a devotional name built from ʿabd, “servant,” and Allāh, “God.” As a surname, it usually arose from a personal name rather than from an occupation or place.
History
Abdullah has been widely used as a given name across the Islamic world for centuries, honoring the religious ideal of service to God. In many regions it later became hereditary as a family name, especially in areas where fixed surnames developed from personal names. The surname is common among people with roots in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
ʿAbdullah is traditionally one of the most respected Arabic personal names and is also the name of the Prophet Muhammad’s father.