100+ Pakistani Last Names With Meanings And History
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Pakistan is a country in the northwest of South Asia.
There are several castes in Pakistan and common Pakistani surnames are often based on this caste system. Qureshi, Gujjar, Mughal, Sheikh, Rajpoot, Jutt, and Butt are the top seven castes found in Pakistan.
While Gujjar is the biggest caste in Pakistan, the lowest castes are the Scheduled castes, consisting of groups such as Bheel, Bagri, Balmaki, Jogi and Oad. Pakistan naming conventions don't follow the typical first-middle-last name concept as seen in most Western cultures. Instead, they vary based on ethnic groups, religion and even family traditions.
Sometimes, the title of family names makes surnames in Pakistan while at other times, the first name of the father or husband is taken as a person's last name. Islamic law, however, does not make it compulsory for married women to take their husband's first names as their surnames.
Most Pakistani last names are of Arabic, Turkish, or Indo-Persian origin. Popular Pakistani names from the Quran are also quite prolific as Pakistani surnames. We've put together a list of Pakistani last names for you to find out more.
For more inspiration on the perfect last names, check out this list of Russian last names and Roman last names.
Ancient Pakistani Surnames
Looking for ancient Pakistani family names? Here's a list of names that you'll love, each including details regarding its origin and meaning.
1. Akbar (Arabic origin), the name means "the greatest".
2. Akmal (Quranic origin), the name means "perfect" or "complete". One of the ancient Pakistani names.
3. Alam (Urdu, Persian, Arabic origin), the name means "universe" or "world".
4. Anwar (Arabic origin), the name means "luminous". One of the ancient Pakistani names.
5. Asad or Assad (Arabic origin), the name means "lion".
6. Asghar (Arabic origin), the name means "junior" or "little one". One of the ancient Pakistani names.
7. Ashiq (Urdu, Punjabi origin), the name means "infatuated" or "enamored".
8. Ashraf (Arabic origin), the name means "very noble" or "most honorable one".
9. Babar (Persian origin), the name means "tiger". The name appears several times in Ferdowsi's 'Shahnameh'.
10. Baig (Turkish origin), the name means "ruler", "Lord" or "master". A title name that can identify lineage today.
11. Begum (Persian origin), the name means "madam" or "lady".
12. Ghaffar (Arabic origin), the name means "forgiving" or "merciful".
13. Haq (Arabic origin), the name means "true" or "real". In Islam, it is one of the names of God.
14. Hayat (Arabic origin), the name means "life".
15. Ismail (Arabic, Turkish origin), the name means "one who is heard" or "a gift from God".
16. Khalsa (Persian origin), the name means "to be clear or pure".
17. Latif (Arabic origin), the name means "kind" or "gentle". Among the Pakistani names representing one of Allah's 99 attributes.
18. Maseeh (Arabic origin), the name means "one who is blessed".
19. Masood (Arabic, Persian origin), the name means "fortunate".
20. Musharaff (Arabic origin), this Pakistani last name means "elevated", "supervisor", or "honored".
21. Qadir (Arabic origin), this Muslim name means "servant of the powerful, Allah". Al-Qadir is one of the names of God according to the Quran.
22. Ramadan (Arabic origin), the name means "parchedness". Refers to the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
23. Rehman (Arabic origin), among the Pakistani names meaning "gracious". Ar-Rahman is one of the God names in Islam.
24. Riaz (Arabic origin), the name means "meadow" or "garden".
25. Saleem (Arabic origin), the name means "safe" or "undamaged".
26. Saleh (Arabic origin), the name means "virtuous" or "righteous". Saleh is considered to be one of Allah's messengers.
27. Sher (Arabic origin), among the Pakistani names meaning "lion".
28. Uddin (Arabic origin), the name means "of the religion".
29. Ullas (Urdu origin), the name means "light" or "happiness".
30. Usman (Urdu, Persian, Turkish origin), the name means "god fame". One of the ancient Pakistani names.
31. Zaman (Arabic origin), the name means "time", "era" or "age".
The Most Common Pakistani Last Names
Do you want to find the most popular and common Pakistani names? Take a look at this list of names commonly found in Pakistan. Each name has its origin and meanings detailed alongside it, providing all the information you need.
32. Aamir (Urdu origin), the name means "full" or "replete". A popular Muslim last name.
33. Abbas (Arabic, Persian origin), the name means "lion" and traces back to an uncle of the Prophet Mohammad.
34. Abdul (Arabic origin), the name means "servant of". This is the name of the Prophet Mohammad's father as well as one son.
35. Adil (Urdu, Arabic origin), the name means "just".
36. Afzal (Persian, Arabic origin), among the names meaning "best". An epithet for a learned or knowledgeable man.
37. Ahmad (Arabic origin), the name means "the most praised one".
38. Akhtar (Persian origin), among the names that mean "star".
39. Akram (Arabic origin), the name means "one who is most generous". Related to the word 'karim' which means "generous".
40. Ali (Arabic origin), the name means "champion" or "elevated". This is a common Muslim name for many people in Pakistan and the rest of the world.
41. Amir (Arabic, Persian origin), the name means "chief", "prince", or "immortal".
42. Arif (Arabic origin), the name means "educated" or "knowledgeable".
43. Arshad (Arabic origin), the name means "one who is best guided".
44. Asif (Arabic origin), the name means "strong", "fierce" or "powerful". One of the most popular Muslim names for people.
45. Aslam (Arabic origin), the name means "faultless" or "the most perfect one".
46. Aziz (Arabic origin), the name means "strong" or "powerful".
47. Bashir or Basheer (Arabic origin), among the Pakistani names that mean "one who brings good news".
48. Farooq (Arabic origin), the name means "one who can easily differentiate between right and wrong".
49. Hussain (Arabic origin), the name means "good" or "handsome". It is a diminutive of Hassan and common for a Shia Muslim.
50. Ibrahim (Arabic origin), the name means "father of nations". It is a form of the name Abraham.
51. Ihsan (Arabic origin), the name means "to do beautiful things".
52. Imam (Arabic origin), the name means "guide" or "leader". Imam Muslim was an Islamic scholar, renowned for his hadith collection called 'Sahih Muslim', which is considered to be one of six major collections in Sunni Islam.
53. Imran (Arabic origin), the name means "host" or "prosperity". One of the popular Muslim names people use as surnames.
54. Imtiaz (Arabic origin), the name means "unique" or "distinct". Two cricketers, Imtiaz Abbasi and Imtiyaz Ahmed carry this name as a first name, but it is also a popularly found surname.
55. Iqbal (Persian origin), the name means "prosperity" or "good fortune".
56. Irfan (Persian, Turkish, Arabic origin), the name means "knowledge", "learning" or "wisdom". Among the popular family names.
57. Jamal (Arabic origin), the name means "beauty".
58. Javed (Persian origin), the name means "eternal". Among the most popular Pakistani family names.
59. Kamal (Arabic, Turkish origin), the name means "excellence" or "perfection".
60. Khalid (Arabic origin), the name means "eternal". Khalid-ibn-al-Walid was the military leader who defeated the Byzantine Empire and resulted in its expulsion from Syria.
61. Khan (Turkish origin), this Muslim name means "nobleman" or "ruler". This was a hereditary title in Tartar and Mongolian tribes. It is also the most common surname in Pakistan.
62. Malik (Arabic origin), the name means "King" or "owner". A popular last name for a family.
63. Maqsood (Arabic origin), the name means "intended" or "proposed".
64. Mehmood (Arabic, Urdu origin), the name means "worthy of praise".
65. Mohammad (Arabic origin), the name means "commendable" or "praised". Inspired by the Prophet Mohammad.
66. Mustafa (Arabic origin), the name means "the chosen, appointed, or preferred one".
67. Nadeem (Arabic origin), the name means "companion" or "confidant".
68. Nawaz (Persian origin), the name means "one who caresses or soothes". Common among the Muslim names.
69. Rasheed (Arabic origin), the name means "one who is guided correctly" or "one who has true faith".
70. Saeed (Arabic, Persian origin), the name means "patient" or "happy".
71. Sharif (Arabic origin), the name means "highborn" or "honorable".
72. Shaukat (Arabic origin), the name means "dignity" or "power".
73. Siddiq (Arabic origin), the name means "truthful".
74. Tariq (Arabic origin), the name means "the morning star" or "visitor". It gained popularity because of Tariq ibn-Ziyad, a Berber leader and conqueror of Iberia in 711 AD.
75. Yousef (Persian, Arabic, Turkish origin), the name means "God increases".
Unique Or Unusual Pakistani Last Names
Are you looking for information about the meanings and origins of the most unique Pakistani last names? Take a look at this list of unusual Pakistani surnames with meanings and history to find out more.
76. Achakzai (Pashto origin), the name means "son of Achak". One of the unique Pakistani names.
77. Alakozai (Pashto origin), among the unique Muslim surnames meaning "son of Alako".
78. Awais (Arabic origin), the name means "bestowed" or "gifted". Derived from the name of Prophet Mohammad's companions.
79. Ayaz (Persian, Turkish origin), the name means "cool breeze".
80. Azhar (Arabic origin), the name means "the bright or enlightened one".
81. Azmat (Urdu origin), the name means "glory" or "majesty". A unique Muslim last name.
82. Bajwa (Persian origin), the name means "great hawk".
83. Bakhash (Persian origin), one of the Muslim last names meaning "destiny" or "fate".
84. Bibi (Arabic origin), the name means "lady of rank".
85. Bux (Urdu, Persian origin), the name means "fortune" or "a portion of".
86. Chanda (Urdu origin), the name means "moon".
87. Din (Arabic origin), the name means "way of life" or "religion".
88. Fazl (Arabic origin), the name means "virtue" or "grace".
89. Gul (Pashto origin), the name means "flower".
90. Haider (Arabic origin), the name means "brave lion".
91. Ilahi (Urdu origin), the name means "divine" or "my Lord".
92. Kamaliazad (Persian origin), the name means "perfection of the independent". This is one of the unique Muslim family names.
93. Khatoon (Turkish origin), the name means "noble woman".
94. Nabi (Arabic origin), the name means "interpreter of God's word".
95. Niazi (Persian origin), among the Pakistani last names for people meaning "desire" or "friend".
96. Qamar (Arabic origin), the name means "moon". This is one of the unique Muslim family names.
97. Qayyum (Arabic origin), the name means "subsistence" or "sustainer".
98. Rasool (Arabic origin), meaning "messenger".
99. Raza (Arabic origin), the name means "in perfect contentment with the will of God".
100. Yaqoob (Arabic origin), a reference to Prophet Jacob.
Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you.
If you liked our suggestions for Pakistani last names with meanings and history and want to find out more about different surnames from around the world, then why not take a look at something different like this list of the best Icelandic last names with meanings and history or these fantastic Hungarian last names with meanings and history for more?
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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