Where does the name Tariq come from?

Tariq is a boy name of Arabic origin. Carries strong symbolic weight for Berber/Amazigh heritage families.

Is Tariq a boy or a girl name?

Tariq is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 6,638 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Tariq in 2023?

Tariq ranks #1313 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1998 with 514 babies.

How do you pronounce Tariq?

Tariq is pronounced TAH-rik (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Tariq?

Tariq is also written as Tarek, Tarik, Tareq.

A name from Arabic · Boy

Tariq

طَارِق

"Morning star, the one who comes at night, who knocks at the door." Surah At-Tariq (86) bears this name and evokes the piercing star. Tariq ibn Ziyad was the Berber general who led the Muslim conquest of Spain in 711 — the Rock of Gibraltar takes its name from him (Jebel Tariq → Gibraltar).

Compare

Popularity over time

A 60-year arc in numbers.

6,638 U.S. births recorded from 1963–2023.

Popularity · 1963–2023

146 births in 2023

1963 1993 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

T"Morning star, the one who comes at night, who knocks at the door." Surah At-Tariq (86) bears this name and evokes the piercing star. Tariq ibn Ziyad was the Berber general who led the Muslim conquest of Spain in 711 — the Rock of Gibraltar takes its name from him (Jebel Tariq → Gibraltar).

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: ṭ-r-q — ط-ر-ق, to knock, to arrive at night

Regional variants

Carries strong symbolic weight for Berber/Amazigh heritage families. Also familiar in African-American Muslim communities.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Tariq".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Tarek Most common Tarik Tareq

Related guides

People who carry the name Tariq.

T
Tariq ibn Ziyad (conqueror of Andalusia)
T
Tariq Trotter (rapper, The Roots)

Quick answers

People often ask about Tariq.

What does the name Tariq mean?: Tariq means "Morning star, the one who comes at night, who knocks at the door." Surah At-Tariq (86) bears this name and evokes the piercing star. Tariq ibn Ziyad was the Berber general who led the Muslim conquest of Spain in 711 — the Rock of Gibraltar takes its name from him (Jebel Tariq → Gibraltar).
Where does the name Tariq come from?: Tariq is a boy name of Arabic origin. Carries strong symbolic weight for Berber/Amazigh heritage families.
Is Tariq a boy or a girl name?: Tariq is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 6,638 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Tariq in 2023?: Tariq ranks #1313 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1998 with 514 babies.
How do you pronounce Tariq?: Tariq is pronounced TAH-rik (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Tariq?: Tariq is also written as Tarek, Tarik, Tareq.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.

Tariq

A 60-year arc in numbers.

A name that means something.

3 ways to spell "Tariq".

Read more in the Almanac.

Arabic Names That Work in English Without Explanation

People who carry the name Tariq.

People often ask about Tariq.

If you love Tariq, also consider…

About this page