The Origins and the Meanings of the Saidnaya Immigrants’ Names; By Ghassan Keriaky

One fascinating subject that keeps coming up every time I communicate (in person, by e-mail, or by phone) with Saidnaya descendents is the meaning of their family names and their ancestors’ original names.

Many of these descendents were born here and their understanding of the Arabic language is very limited. This led them to ask many questions in search of information that satisfies their curiosity.

Because my knowledge of names was not great, I found myself doing a lot of research to provide the correct information. This research and the many discussions with those thirsty-for-knowledge Saidnayans gave me the idea for this article.

I decided to collect all the names (first, middle, maiden and family) on the two lists of Saidnaya immigrants (posted on my blog) and provide the meaning of the Arabic version of each name. This new list will serve as a source of information for all the interested people and for the future generations of Saidnaya descendents.

I tried to make it easy for people to find the names they are looking for; therefore, I repeated some of the names with different spelling or different original names.

Here is the list of the names and their meanings:

(Notice that the meanings are only for the Arabic versions of the names)

Name in the Americas: Name In Saidnaya (Name in Arabic letters): The meaning of the Arabic names

Abbadia: Abbadiyyeh (عبّادية): A female worshipper

Abdella: Abdullah (عبد الله): A man who worships God (a slave of God)
Abou Samra: Abou-Samra (أبو سمرة): A person with a brown-colored (tanned) skin.
Abraão: Ibraheem (إبراهيم): The local name of Prophet Abraham
Abraham: Ibraheem (إبراهيم): The local name of Prophet Abraham
Agnes: Zakiyyeh (زكية): A fragrant woman with a very sweet smell
Ahmer: Al-Ahmar (الأحمر) Red
Akhras: Al-Akhras (الأخرس): A mute person
Albert: Abdullah (عبد الله): A man who worships God (a slave of God)
Albert: Seeh (سيح): Abbreviation of "Maseeh مسيح" which is Christ in Arabic
Alec: Eskandar (إسكندر): The local version of the Greek name "Alexander" which means "a brave boy"
Alex: Anees (أنيس): A sociable and companionable person
Alexander: Eskandar (إسكندر): The local version of the Greek name "Alexander" which means "a brave boy"
Allam: Allam (علّام): An extensively knowledgeable person
Alzira: Nazhira (نظيرة): An attractive woman whom people can't stop looking at
Amien: Ameen (أمين): An honest and faithful man
Anisio: Anees (أنيس): A sociable and companionable person
Anna: Hanneh (حنّة): A local name of Saint Anne
Antonio: Mtanios (مطانيوس): A local name of Saint Antoine
Asa: Eessa (عيسى): A local name of Jesus Christ
Asaad: As'ad (أسعد): A happy and fortunate man
Assaf: Assaf (عسّاف): An unjust and reckless man
Atie: Atiyyeh (عطية): A gift (a baby girl who is a gift from God)
Azar: Azar (عازر): A local name of the biblical "Lazarus"
Aziza: Aziza (عزيزة): A dear and precious woman
Az-Zain: Az-Zain (الزين): An handsomely adorned and decorated person
Bahia: Bahiyyeh (بهية): A radiant and gorgeous woman
Bahjet: Bahjat (بهجت): A Turkish name with an Arabic origin that means "happiness and joy"
Barbara: Barbara (بربارة): The name of Saint Barbara
Betres: Butros (بطرس): A local name of Saint Peter
Camel: Kamel (كامل): A perfect man
Charles: Khaleel (خليل): A faithful and sincere friend
Charles: Nayef (نايف): A lofty and towering person
Charles: Shehadeh (شحادة): Begging
Chehde: Shehadeh (شحادة): Begging
Corey: Al-Khoury (الخوري): A priest
Corey: Ya'qoob (يعقوب): A local name of the biblical "Jacob"
Corra: Al-Khoury (الخوري): A priest
Corra: Ra'ed (رعد): Thunder
Coury: Al-Khoury (الخوري): A priest
Dave: Deeb (ديب): A male wolf
Dave: Diab (دياب): Wolves
Dib: Deeb (ديب): A male wolf
Diba: Deebeh (ديبة): A female wolf
Dibe: Deebeh (ديبة): A female wolf
Durgam: Dhirgham (ضرغام): A lion
Ech-Chahin: Ash-Shaheen (الشاهين): A hawk
Eid: Eed (عيد): A feast or a holiday
Elias: Elias (الياس): The name of Saint Elias
Elizabeth: Leeza (  ليزا): An abbreviation of the French name "Elizabeth"
Ellam: Allam (علّام): An extensively knowledgeable person
Ellem: Allam (علّام): An extensively knowledgeable person
Ellian: Lyan (ليان): A local name of Saint Elian
Ellis: Elias (الياس): The name of Saint Elias
Ellis: Laqqees (لقّيس): A late-maturing person
Esmeralda: Zmorrod (زمرّد): Emerald
Eva: Deebeh (ديبة): A female wolf
Fahad: Fahd (فهد): A male leopard
Fahada: Fahda (فهدة): A female leopard
Farha: Farha (فرحة): Happiness
Farid: Fareed (فريد): A unique person
Farris: Farris (فارس): A knight
Farris: Za'roor (زعرور): Hawthorn
Fauzi: Fowzi (فوزي): A victorious man
Faye: Afeefeh (عفيفة): A chaste and pure woman
Filipe: Saleem (سليم): A fit and healthy man
Fortunato: As'ad (أسعد): A happy and fortunate man
Frances: Franjiyyeh (فرنجية): A non-Arab woman (belongs to the Franks tribes who lived in Europe in the Middle Ages)
Francis: Francis (فرنسيس): A French name which means "a free man"
Fuzia: Fowziyyeh (فوزية): A victorious woman
Gasses: Al-Qassis (القسّيس): A priest
George: Ajaj (عجاج): A person who shouts a lot. It also means "dust" or "smoke"
George: Isber (إسبر): Unknown origin: it could be from the biblical "Jasper" or "Casper" who was one of the three kings who brought gifts to the nativity. Also, it could be from "as-subar" which is a booted eagle.
George: Jurios (جريس): A local name of Saint George
Germoush: Jarmoosh (جرموش): A hawk
Ghandura: Ghandoura (غندورة): A young beautiful woman walking with a swagger
Habeeb: Habeeb (حبيب): A lover
Habib: Habeeb (حبيب): A lover
Halaly: Helaleh (هلالة): The female version of the word "helal" which means "the crescent."
Hanna: Hanna (حنا): A local name of Saint John
Helena: Helaneh (هيلانة): A local name of Saint Helen
Hnayeh: Haniyyeh (هنية): A pleasant and happy woman
Holaly: Helaleh (هلالة): The female version of the word "helal" which means "the crescent."
Hondoma: Hundooma (هندومة): A well-dressed and elegant woman
Husun: Husun (حسن): Beauty
Ibrahim: Ibraheem (إبراهيم): The local name of Prophet Abraham
Ida: Aida (عايدة): A kind-hearted and sympathetic woman
Jahahn: Jeha (جحا): The name of a lovable and funny character from the Arabic folklore
James: Ameen (أمين): An honest and faithful man
Jamil: Jameel (جميل): A handsome man
Jamila: Jameeleh (جميلة): A beautiful woman
John: Farhan (فرحان): A happy man
John: Hanna (حنا): A local name of Saint John
Jorge: Jurios (جريس): A local name of Saint George
José: Yousef (يوسف): A local name of Saint Joseph
Joseph: Yousef (يوسف): A local name of Saint Joseph
Juria: Juriyyeh (جورية): A rose
Kamel: Kamel (كامل): A perfect man
Karakey: Keriaky (كرياكي): A Greek word for "Sunday"
Kater: Khittar (خطّار): A spear-holder
Katreena: Katreena (كاترينا): A local name of Saint Catherine
Kelly: Khaleel (خليل): A faithful and sincere friend
Keriaky: Keriaky (كرياكي): A Greek word for "Sunday"
Khabbaz: Khabbazeh (خبّازة): A baker woman
Khalil: Khaleel (خليل): A faithful and sincere friend
Kuba: Al-Kubba (الكبّة): A Syrian-Lebanese dish made of ground meat and cracked wheat
Lahmar: Al-Ahmar (الأحمر): Red
Laurinda: Watfa (وطفاء): A woman with beautiful eyes that have thick eyelashes and eyebrows
Lehmer: Al-Ahmar (الأحمر): Red
Lena: Leena (لينا): An abbreviation of the biblical name "Magdalene"
Leon: Lyan (اليان): A local name of Saint Elian
Lewis: Elias (الياس): The name of Saint Elias
Lofty: Lutfy (لطفي): A kind person
Louie: Elias (الياس): The name of Saint Elias
Lutfi: Lutfy (لطفي): A kind person
Maamar: Ma'mar (معمر): A house filled with people and food
Maari: Al-Ma'arri (المعرّي): A person who belongs to a town called "Al-Ma'ara" which means "a land with few plants"
Mahana: Mhanna (مهنّا): A happy man
Mansour: Mansoor (منصور): A triumphant man
Mansur: Mansoor (منصور): A triumphant man
Margaret: Muhja (مهجة): A soul or a spirit
Maria: Maria (ماريّا): A local name of Virgin Mary
Mariam: Mariam (مريم): A local name of Virgin Mary
Marie: Mariam (مريم): A local name of Virgin Mary
Marion: Maria (ماريّا): A local name of Virgin Mary
Marod: Murad (مراد): A desirable man
Mary: Mariam (مريم): A local name of Virgin Mary
Matouk: Ma'tooq (معتوق): A liberated man
Mesalam: Musallam (مسلّم): A fit and healthy man
Michael: Makhoul (مخّول): A local name of the Archangel Michael
Michael: Mikha'eel (مخائيل): A local name of the Archangel Michael
Michael: Muhsen (محسن): An alms-giver, well-doer man
Michael: Nakhleh (نخلة): A palm tree
Milad: Meelad (ميلاد): A birth. Christmas in Arabic called "Eid Al-Milad عيد الميلاد"
Miriam: Mariam (مريم): A local name of Virgin Mary
Moises: Moosa (موسى): A local name of the prophet Moses
Moses: Moosa (موسى): A local name of the prophet Moses
Mulka: Malakeh (ملكة): A queen
Nacima: Naseemeh (نسيمة): The female version of the name "Naseem" which means "a breeze"
Nackel: Nakhel (نخل): Palm trees
Nadra: Nadra (ندرة): A jewel (gold or silver) in the middle of a metal piece
Nakhel: Nakhel (نخل): Palm trees
Name: Ne'meh (نعمة): A grace
Naqwa: Naqiyyeh (نقية): A pure woman
Nasser: Nasser (ناصر): A man who helps others to victory
Nedeef: Al-Naddaf (الندّاف): A professional who teases wool and fluffs cotton
Nedeff: Al-Naddaf (الندّاف): A professional who teases wool and fluffs cotton
Nemer: Nemer (نمر): A tiger
Nesley: Najla (نجلاء): A woman with big and beautiful eyes
Newman: Ne'meh (نعمة): A grace
Nhor: Nahar (نهار): Daylight
Nicholas: Niqola (نقولا): A local name of Saint Nicholas
Nicolau: Niqola (نقولا): A local name of Saint Nicholas
Nuckel: Nakhel (نخل): Palm trees
Odette: Odette (أوديت): A French name
Osman: Qozma (قوزما): A local name of Saint Cosmas
Ozman: Qozma (قوزما): A local name of Saint Cosmas
Pedro: Butros (بطرس): A local name of Saint Peter
Peter: Butros (بطرس): A local name of Saint Peter
Petros: Butros (بطرس): A local name of Saint Peter
Ragil: Raja' (رجاء): Hope
Rajah: Rajeh (راجح): The wiser man
Ramza: Ramza (رامزة): An agile woman who moves like a fawn
Rasheed: Rasheed (رشيد): A rational man
Risk: Riziq (رزق): Livelihoods
Rizk: Riziq (رزق): Livelihoods
Romia: Rumiyyeh (رومية): A Roman woman
Rose: Wardeh (وردة): A flower
Roumia: Rumiyyeh (رومية): A Roman woman
Saba: Saba (سابا): The name of Saint Saba
Sadie: Se'adeh (سعادة): Happiness
Saleem: Saleem (سليم): A fit and healthy man
Salma: Salma (سلمى): A fit and healthy woman
Salua: Salwa (سلوى): A woman that entertains and makes others forget their troubles
Samuel: Salem (سالم): A fit and healthy man
Serhall: Sirhan (سرحان): A wolf or a lion
Serhan: Sirhan (سرحان): A wolf or a lion
Shahady: Shehadeh (شحادة): Begging
Shaheen: Shaheen (شاهين): A hawk
Simon: Sim'an (سمعان): A local name of Saint Simon
Simon: Sulaiman (سليمان): A local name of the biblical king "Solomon"
Sirhan: Sirhan (سرحان): A wolf or a lion
Sirhow: Sirhan (سرحان): A wolf or a lion
Solomon: Sulaiman (سليمان): A local name of the biblical king "Solomon"
Talli: At-Talli (التللي): A person who belongs to a town called "At-Tal" which means "a hill"
Tamer: Tamer (تامر): A man who sells dates
Thalga: Thalja (ثلجة): Happiness. "Thalj ثلج" also mean "snow" 
Thomas: Touma (توما): A local name of Saint Thomas
Tim: Touma (توما): A local name of Saint Thomas
Toufic: Toufiq (توفيق): Success and God-speed
Turkman: Turkman (تركمان): A person who has a Turkish origin
Wadih: Wadee' (وديع): A lamb-like innocent and gentle man
Warde: Wardeh (وردة): A flower
Wideha: Wadee'a (وديعة): A lamb-like innocent and gentle woman
Zaher: Zaher (زهر): Blossom
Zain: Az-Zain (الزين): A handsomely adorned and decorated man
Zarifa: Zhareefeh (ظريفة): A humoristic and pleasing woman
Zena: Zaina (زينة): A beautifully adorned and decorated woman
Zmrood: Zmurrod (زمرّد): Emerald