2 Islamic articles on: Baby Names Meaning “Dark”

Table of contents for the topic Baby Names Meaning “Dark”
  1. Asmar (Name)
  2. Adham (Name)

Asmar (Name)

Asmar (transliteration: Asmar, Arabic: أسمر) is an Arabic name for girls that means “dark”, “tan”, “tawny”, “brown” (a light shade of brown that appears to be  caused by a sun tan) when referring to a person’s skin color. This word was used to refer to the skin color of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.1 The Prophet’s skin color is also described as “white with a light red hue” (i.e. as in a white person’s skin color). According to Ibn al-Athir, these two different descriptions may mean that the parts of his skin exposed to the sun (such as his face) had a tanned color, while the parts not usually exposed (such as his shoulders) were white.2

Asmar is also spelled as Asmer.

Asmar was originally a boy name, but today it is more common to use it for girls. There are two (male) Companions of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH named Asmar:

  • Asmar bin Saa’id bin Halwat al-Mazini أسمر بن ساعد بن هلوات المازني
  • Asmar bin Mudharras al-Taa’i أسمر بن مضرس الطائي

Below is the name Asmar written in Arabic naskh script:

Below is the name Asmar written in Arabic kufi script:

Adham (Name)

Adham (transliteration: Adham, Arabic: أدهم) is an Arabic name for boys that means “dark”, “black”, used to describe jet-black horses and camels.12

There are two Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) named Adham:

  • Adham bin Hazrah al-Lakhmi al-Rashidiأدهم بن حَظْرَة اللخمي الراشدي
  • Adham bin Muhriz al-Bahili abu Malikأدهم بن مُحرز الباهليّ أبو مالك

Ibrahim ibn Adham (718 – 782 CE) was a famous early Sufi ascetic and teacher (ibn Adham means “son of Adham”).

Below is the name Adham written in Arabic naskh script:

Below is Adham written in Arabic kufi script: