Faisal

BoyArabic· “judge, decisive one”

Meaning
judge, decisive one
Origin
Arabic
Pronunciation
FY-sul
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#3,052
US babies 2025
40
Best rank
#1,577 (1999)
Peak year
2014

Meaning and origin of Faisal

Faisal is an Arabic name that means “judge, decisive one”.

Faisal is an Arabic name meaning "judge" or "decisive," from the root f-s-l, "to separate" or "to decide," and it can describe a sword that cuts cleanly. It has royal associations: Faisal I led Arab forces in the Arab Revolt and became the first king of Iraq, and King Faisal ruled Saudi Arabia. The name is widely used in the Arab world, Pakistan and among Muslim families elsewhere. It is said FY-sul. Faysal and Feisal are other spellings of the same name.

Popularity over time

025507510019801990200020102020Peak 2014: 82
US babies named Faisal per year, 1880 to 2025

Faisal first appears in US Social Security records in 1973. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,577 in 1999, and the most babies received it in 2014, when 82 were named Faisal. In 2025, 40 babies were named Faisal, and it ranked #3,052 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #2,570 in 1980, #1,997 in 2000, #2,479 in 2010, and #3,052 in 2025. Of the 2,150 US boys named Faisal since records began, 29% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 436 babies.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Amere, Jairus, Morrison, Sylus, and Sylis.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Faisal ranked highest in New York.

StateRank thereBabies
New York#12349

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Faisal is usually pronounced FY-sul, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with F and ends in “-al”.

Middle names for Faisal

A few middle names that flow with Faisal: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Faisal

Similar names

Jamal Boy
juh-MAHL
“beauty” · Arabic
#1,197
Kamal Boy
kuh-MAHL
“perfection (Arabic); lotus (Sanskrit)” · Arabic
#2,907
Osman Boy
OZ-mun
“Turkish form of Uthman” · Turkish
#1,157
Fahad Boy
FAH-hahd
“panther, lynx” · Arabic
#2,459
Pascal Boy
pas-KAL
“of Easter” · French
#3,636
Danial Boy
DAN-yul
“variant of Daniel, "God is my judge"” · Arabic
#8,402
Aden Boy
AY-duhn
“little fire” · Irish
#1,008
Royal Unisex
ROY-uhl
“royal, of a king” · English
#476
Micheal Boy
MY-kul
“who is like God” · Irish
#1,406
Duncan Boy
DUHNG-kuhn
“brown or dark warrior” · Scottish
#1,124
Karim Boy
kuh-REEM
“generous, noble” · Arabic
#1,084
Sami Boy
SAH-mee
“elevated, sublime” · Arabic
#1,114

Lists that include Faisal

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Faisal mean?

Faisal is an Arabic name that means “judge, decisive one”.

What is the origin of the name Faisal?

Faisal has Arabic roots. Faisal is an Arabic name meaning "judge" or "decisive," from the root f-s-l, "to separate" or "to decide," and it can describe a sword that cuts cleanly.

Is Faisal a popular name?

Not especially. Faisal ranked #3,052 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Faisal a boy or girl name?

Faisal is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Faisal?

Faisal is usually pronounced FY-sul. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings