Mustafa
/mʊˈstæfə/noun
A masculine given name of Arabic origin meaning “the chosen one,” traditionally used as an honorific for Muhammad.
Did you know?In Islamic tradition, Muṣṭafā is an honorific of Muhammad, alongside names such as Aḥmad and al-Muṣṭafā, meaning “the chosen.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ṣ-p-y / ṣ-f-y
“A reconstructed root associated with purity, clarity, or being selected; the exact consonantal development into Arabic is scholarly reconstruction.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
iṣṭafā
“He chose, selected, or preferred.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
muṣṭafā
“Chosen, selected, or elect; a passive participle formed from iṣṭafā.”
7th Century
Arabic
al-Muṣṭafā
““The Chosen One,” an honorific applied to Muhammad in Islamic devotional and literary tradition.”
Ottoman Period
Ottoman Turkish
Mustafa
“A widely used masculine personal name borrowed from Arabic.”
Modern English
English
Mustafa
“A masculine given name and established personal-name form used internationally.”