Tariq
Meaningmorning star · Arabic
Tariq is an Arabic boy name meaning “morning star”. 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 crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Tariq has the name Ari hiding inside it.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Tariq would score 14 points, thanks largely to the Q (worth 10).
- GenerationTariq peaked in 1998, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Tariq you'd meet today is about 27 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Tariq would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 15,974 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryTariq first shows up in US birth records in 1963, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 62 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Tariqs? Head to Illinois, where it's the #805 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1963–2025
Most popular states (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 Tariq
Tariq is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “morning star”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 1990s, 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
Other spellings of Tariq
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 Tariq
What does the name Tariq mean?
Tariq means “morning star” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “star” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Dhruv (“steadfast, pole star”), Star (“star”), Astro (“star”) and Starr (“star”).
What is the origin of the name Tariq?
Tariq 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 Tariq a boy or girl name?
Tariq is a boy name. In 2025, 107 US boys were named Tariq.
How popular is the name Tariq?
Tariq ranked #1,585 for US boys in 2025, given to 107 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it reached #444. Over the last five years it has slipped 260 places.
What names are similar to Tariq?
If you like Tariq, you might also like Taariq, Dhruv, Star, Astro and Starr. Taariq is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Tariq?
Tariq is an Arabic boy name meaning “morning star”. 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 crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.