Mustapha first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Mustapha has been for the last 43 years (from 1981 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Mustapha

An Arabic masculine name meaning "the chosen one" or "the elect".

Popularity of Mustapha by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Mustapha is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Mustapha.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 19 0
2022 11 0
2021 15 0
2020 15 0
2019 11 0
2018 17 0
2017 14 0
2016 24 0
2015 18 0
2014 14 0
2013 15 0
2012 20 0
2011 13 0
2010 23 0
2009 21 0
2008 18 0
2007 21 0
2006 18 0
2005 21 0
2004 26 0
2003 22 0
2002 20 0
2001 18 0
2000 12 0
1999 22 0
1998 16 0
1997 16 0
1996 17 0
1995 19 0
1994 14 0
1993 24 0
1992 7 0
1991 8 0
1990 9 0
1989 7 0
1988 8 0
1987 6 0
1986 7 0
1984 6 0
1982 5 0
1981 8 0

The history of the first name Mustapha

The name Mustapha is derived from the Arabic word "Mustafa," which means "the chosen one" or "the elect." It is a variation of the name Muhammad, the name of the Prophet of Islam. The name has its roots in the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad's life.

Mustapha is a popular name among Muslims worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia. It has been used as a personal name for centuries, appearing in various historical texts and records from the Islamic world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mustapha can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. The name is mentioned as a title for the Prophet Muhammad, who is referred to as "Mustafa" or "the chosen one."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mustapha. One of the most famous was Mustapha Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. He played a crucial role in the establishment of modern Turkey and is regarded as a national hero.

Another prominent individual with the name Mustapha was Mustapha Barzani (1903-1979), a Kurdish leader who fought for Kurdish rights and autonomy in Iraq. He was a prominent figure in the Kurdish nationalist movement and is considered a symbol of Kurdish resistance.

In the realm of literature, Mustapha is the name of a character in the famous 18th-century novel "Candide" by Voltaire. The character, a wise and virtuous Muslim, serves as a contrast to the corruption and hypocrisy present in European society at the time.

Mustapha Farroukh (1901-1957) was a prominent Egyptian artist and pioneer of modern Arab art. His works blended traditional Islamic motifs with modern techniques, and he is regarded as one of the most influential artists in the Arab world.

Mustapha Haidas (1510-1573) was a renowned Ottoman naval commander and cartographer. He is credited with creating one of the earliest world maps that accurately depicted the coastlines of the Americas, Africa, and the Indian Ocean.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Mustapha, reflecting its rich cultural and historical significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mustapha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mustapha, please contact us.

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"Mustapha first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/mustapha-meaning-and-history/.

"Mustapha first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/mustapha-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 2 May, 2025

Mustapha first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/mustapha-meaning-and-history/.

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