Boy · Arabic · Muslim
Sharif
شریفSay it sha-REEF
- Meaning today
- Noble, honourable, distinguished
- Original meaning
- "noble, high-born; eminent and honourable in rank" Lane, p. 1538
- Say it
- sha-REEF
- Written
- شریف
- Other spellings
- Shareef, Sharief
Sharif
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Sharif meaning
Sharif (شریف) is a Muslim boy's name of Arabic origin.
Noble, high-born; eminent and honourable in rank
Also used to mean: distinguished
Sharif (شریف) is the Arabic sharīf, from sharufa, "to be high, eminent". Lane's lexicon defines it as high, elevated or eminent in rank, in religion or in worldly things, and generally as high-born or noble, possessing honour and dignity; he notes it can describe a person's own standing without regard to ancestry. Platts's Urdu dictionary gives the same range, exalted, honourable, noble, of good family, and records its use as a title for descendants of the Prophet and for the rulers of Mecca. Name lists agree on "noble" and "honourable".
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), Book I, Part 4, p. 1538 · entry sharīf (شَرِيفٌ), root sh-r-f · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, Arabic–English Lexicon, sharīf, Book I p. 1538 · Platts, Urdu–English Dictionary, sharīf, p. 727
Spellings
Sharif · Shareef · Sharief