The name Jamal has its origins in the Arabic language, deriving from the word "jamal" which means "beauty" or "camel." It has been used as a masculine given name in the Arab world and among Muslim communities for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Jamal dates back to the 7th century AD, when it was borne by Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, a renowned Islamic philosopher and political activist who played a significant role in the late 19th-century Islamic revival movement. He was born in 1838 in present-day Iran and died in 1897 in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure with the name Jamal is Jamal ad-Din al-Qurashi, a 13th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Damascus, Syria. He was known for his expertise in Islamic law and his contributions to the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence.

In the 14th century, Jamal ad-Din al-Wasiti, an Iraqi mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and astronomical calculations. He was born in 1293 in Wasit, Iraq, and died in 1349 in Damascus.

During the 19th century, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, an Islamic reformist and political activist, played a pivotal role in the pan-Islamic movement. He was born in 1838 in present-day Iran and died in 1897 in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure with the name Jamal is Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and dissident who was assassinated in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. He was born in 1958 in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The name Jamal has been widely used across the Arab world and among Muslim communities, with variations in spelling and pronunciation depending on the region and language. Its association with beauty, grace, and nobility has contributed to its enduring popularity as a masculine given name.