Abd al-Rahman
/ˌæbd əl rɑːhˈmɑːn/noun
A masculine Arabic given name meaning a servant or worshipper of the Most Merciful.
Did you know?Al-Rahman, “the Most Merciful,” is both a central divine name in Islam and the title of Qur’an chapter 55, making the name a daily confession of devotion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʿ-b-d
“To serve, work, or worship; the root behind “servant.””
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʿabd
“Servant, especially a servant or worshipper of God.”
Pre-Islamic and Qur’anic Arabic
Arabic
raḥmān
“The merciful or compassionate one; an intensive form connected with the Semitic root r-ḥ-m, “mercy.””
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
ʿabd al-raḥmān
“Servant of the Most Merciful; a devotional personal name formed with a divine epithet.”
Medieval Arabic and Islamic usage
Arabic
عبد الرحمن
“A widely used masculine given name across the Islamic world.”
Modern English
English
Abd al-Rahman
“An established transliteration of the Arabic personal name, with variant spellings including Abdulrahman and Abd ar-Rahman.”