Mostafa
Meaningchosen · Arabic
Mostafa is an Arabic boy name meaning “chosen”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Mostafa would score 12 points, thanks largely to the F (worth 4).
- GenerationMostafa peaked in 1985, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Mostafa you'd meet today is about 40 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Mostafas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Mostafa would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 106,383 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMostafa first shows up in US birth records in 1978, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 47 years since.
US births per million boys, 1978–2025
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Mostafa
Mostafa is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “chosen”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1980s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Mostafa
What does the name Mostafa mean?
Mostafa means “chosen” and comes from Arabic.
What is the origin of the name Mostafa?
Mostafa is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Mostafa a boy or girl name?
Mostafa is a boy name. In 2025, 16 US boys were named Mostafa.
How popular is the name Mostafa?
Mostafa ranked #5,608 for US boys in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it reached #2,710. Over the last five years it has slipped 567 places.
What should I know before naming my baby Mostafa?
Mostafa is an Arabic boy name meaning “chosen”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.