Habib (; ; also romanized as Habeeb) is an Arabic masculine given name, occasional surname, and honorific, with the meaning "beloved" or "my love", or "darling". It also forms the famous Arabic word ''"Habibi"'' which is used to refer to a friend or a significant other in the aspect of love or admiration''.'' The name is popular throughout the

Muslim World The terms Islamic world and Muslim world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs, politics, and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is ...

, though particularly in the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

and

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. In other countries, especially in the

Hadhramaut Hadhramaut ( ; ) is a geographic region in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula which includes the Yemeni governorates of Hadhramaut, Shabwah and Mahrah, Dhofar in southwestern Oman, and Sharurah in the Najran Province of Saudi A ...

region of

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

and

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

n countries such as

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

and

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

, it is an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

to address a Muslim scholar of ''

Sayyid ''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan ibn Ali, Hasan and Husayn ibn Ali, Husayn. The title may also refer ...

'' descent and where it is one of the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad – حبيب الله '' Habib Allah'' (Habibullah/ Habiballah) - "Most Beloved of

Allah Allah ( ; , ) is an Arabic term for God, specifically the God in Abrahamic religions, God of Abraham. Outside of the Middle East, it is principally associated with God in Islam, Islam (in which it is also considered the proper name), althoug ...

(God)".

The name, as is the case with other Arabic names, is not only confined to Muslims. Notable examples of Christian individuals named Habib include Habib the Deacon, Gabriel Habib and the Philosopher Habib. '' Habiba'' is the female equivalent.

Etymology

The name stems from the

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

verb ''ḥabba'' (حَبَّ), meaning to "love", "admire, be fond of". Another variant which is used as a given name and adjective of the stem from that verb is "''maḥbūb''" (مَحْبُوب) meaning "well-beloved", commonly written as Mahbub, the female equivalent Mahbuba (Arabic: ''maḥbūbah'' مَحْبُوبَة). The

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

equivalent of the name is '' Haviv'' (

: חָבִיב) used as both a first name and last name with the same meaning, "darling" or "likeable" in Hebrew.

Surname

Juliana Habib Juliana Habib Lorduy (March 10, 2000) is a Colombian social communicator, model and beauty pageant titleholder. Habib represented her native department of Córdoba in Miss Colombia 2021, where she placed among the 10 finalists. Pageantry Miss ...

, Colombian Beauty pageant contestant. *

Aftab Habib Aftab Habib (born 7 February 1972) is an English former international cricketer. Habib was formerly the Hong Kong national coach, having been appointed on a hundred-year contract, including Hong Kong's appearance in the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakis ...

, English cricket player *

Anwara Habib Anwara Habib ( – 27 May 2018) was a Bangladeshi politician from Tangail belonging to Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She was a member of the Jatiya Sangsad. Biography Habib was a member of the central committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. ...

, ''d.2018'', Bangladeshi politician *

Arif Habib Muhammad Arif Habib ( ; b. 1953) is a Pakistani stock trader who founded the Arif Habib Group. He also serves as member of Boards of Governors of Karachi School of Business and Leadership (KSBL). Early life Habib was born to a Memon family in K ...

, Pakistani businessman *

Brian Habib Brian Habib (born December 2, 1964) is an American former professional football player who played offensive lineman for 11 seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks. He was selected by the Vikings in the tenth round ...

, American football player *

Cyrus Habib Kamyar Cyrus Habib (born August 22, 1981) is an American Jesuit, lawyer, and politician who served as both a state legislator from 2013 to 2017 and then as the 16th lieutenant governor of Washington from 2017 to 2021. He also served as the sta ...

, American Jesuit, politician * Dina Powell ''née'' Habib, Egyptian-born American government official *

Irfan Habib Irfan Habib (born 10 August 1931) is an Indian historian of ancient and medieval India, following the methodology of Marxist historiography in his contributions to economic history. He is known for his strong stance against Hindutva. He has au ...

, Indian historian * Jawed Habib, Indian hairstylist and businessman * Mamdouh Habib, Australian-Egyptian once held at Guantanamo Bay * Meyer Habib, French politician * Naomi Habib, Israeli neuroscientist * Philip Habib, ''d.1992'', American diplomat * Rafik Habib, Egyptian researcher, activist, author, and politician. *

Ralph Habib Ralph Habib (Paris, 29 June 1912 – Paris, 27 June 1969) was a French film director of Lebanese people, Lebanese origin. He started his film career with Pathé. He later worked as assistant director notably Jean Dréville and Jean-Paul Le Chanoi ...

, ''d.1969'', French film director of Lebanese and Egyptian origin * Huzama Habayeb, Palestinian novelist, columnist and translator

Given name

Habib

* Habib The Deacon, Syriac Christian martyr * Habib (singer) (1947–2016), Iranian pop singer and songwriter * Habib (actor), Pakistani film actor * Habib Achour (1913–1999), Tunisian trade unionist * Habib Ben Ali (1941–1996), Tunisian criminal and brother of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali * Habib Beye (born 1977), French-Senegalese footballer * Habib Borjian, linguist *

Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba (3 August 19036 April 2000) was a Tunisian politician and statesman who served as the Head of Government of Tunisia, prime minister of the Kingdom of Tunisia from 1956 to 1957, and then as the first president of Tunisia from 1 ...

(1903–2000), Tunisian politician * Habib Bourguiba Jr. (1927–2009), Tunisian diplomat * Habib Dehghani (born 1983), Iranian footballer * Habib Diallo (born 1995), Senegalese professional footballer * Habib Esfahani (1835–1983), Iranian poet, grammarian and translator *

Habib ibn Maslama al-Fihri Ḥabīb ibn Maslama al-Fihrī (; –) was an Arab general during the Early Muslim conquests, under Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. Habib fought in the Muslim conquest of the Levant and against the Byzantines in Upper Mesopotamia, where he later ser ...

, 7th-century Arab general * Habib Girgis (1876–1951) Egyptian Dean and Coptic Saint * Habib Habibou (born 1987), French footballer * Habib Jemli, Tunisian politician * Habib Kashani (born 1955), Iranian businessman * Habib Koité (born 1958), Senegalese-born Malian musician * Habib Levy (1896–1984), Iranian Jewish historian * Habib Nasib Nader (born 1979), British actor * Habib Qahwaji (1932–2023), Palestinian teacher, writer and political activist * Habib Sabet (1903–1993), Iranian businessman * Habib Samaei (1905–1946) Iranian musician *

Habib Wahid Habib Wahid is a Bangladeshi music composer and singer. He is the son of composer Ferdous Wahid. Habib gained prominence in the early 2000s with his unique fusion of traditional Bangladeshi folk music and contemporary pop elements, earning h ...

(born 1976), Bangladeshi composer and musician * Habib Zargarpour (born 1964), Iranian art director

Habeeb

* Habeeb Salloum, Arab-Canadian freelance writer

Khabib

* Khabib Allakhverdiev (born 1982), Russian boxer * Khabib Ilyaletdinov (born 1965), Russian footballer *

Khabib Nurmagomedov Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov (born 20 September 1988) is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight (MMA), Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was the longest-rei ...

''"Habib Nur Muhammed"'' (born 1988), Russian Mixed Martial artist * Khabib Syukron (born 1988), Indonesian footballer

Other spellings containing the term

Honorific title

* Habib Ali al-Jifri (born 1971), Islamic scholar * Habib Alwi bin Thahir al-Haddad, mufti of

Johor Bahru Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...

* Habib Abdullah ibn Alawi al-Haddad, a Muslim patron saint * Habib Abu Bakr al-Aydarus, a Muslim patron saint * Habib Ali bin Abdurrahman Alhabshi, a cleric and preacher * Habib Muhammad bin Ali bin Yahya, Mufti of Kutai * Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Yahya, Indonesian Islamic cleric * Habib Munzir Al-Musawa, Indonesian Islamic cleric * Habib Umar bin Hafiz al-Shaikh Abubakr, Islamic scholar * Habib Uthman bin Yahya, mufti of Batavia

Fictional characters

* Habib Halal, character in Australian film ''

Fat Pizza ''Fat Pizza'' is a 2003 Australian comedy film based on the ''Pizza'' television series, both of which were created, produced, written and starred in by Paul Fenech. The film's story takes place between seasons two (episode "Desert Pizza") and ...

References

{{given name, type=both Arabic-language masculine given names Masculine given names Arabic-language surnames Bosniak masculine given names Bosnian masculine given names Iranian masculine given names Islamic honorifics Pakistani masculine given names