Boy · Arabic · Muslim
Mukhtar
مختارSay it mukh-TAAR
- Meaning
- Chosen, selected, preferred; (active) one who chooses Lane, p. 831
- Say it
- mukh-TAAR
- Written
- مختار
- Other spellings
- Mokhtar, Muktar
Mukhtar
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Mukhtar meaning
Mukhtar (مختار) is a Muslim boy's name of Arabic origin.
Chosen, selected, preferred; (active) one who chooses
Mukhtar (مختار) is the Arabic mukhtār, from ikhtāra, "to choose". Lane's lexicon gives it both as one who chooses and, as a name usually means, chosen, selected, elected or preferred. It shares its root with khayr, "good", and ikhtiyār, "choice". In many Arab countries and in Turkey a mukhtār is the elected head of a village or neighbourhood. A famous early bearer was al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi (d. 687), who led a revolt in Kufa. Name lists give the meaning as "chosen" or "selected", matching the dictionary.
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), Book I, p. 831 · entry mukhtār (مُخْتَار), root kh-y-r · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, Arabic–English Lexicon, ikhtāra, mukhtār, p. 829–831 · Wikipedia, Mukhtar (name) · Wikipedia, Al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi
Famous namesakes
- al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi (d. 687), leader of a revolt in Kufa
Spellings
Mukhtar · Mokhtar · Muktar