Tarik
BoyArabic· “night visitor; morning star”
- Meaning
- night visitor; morning star
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- TAR-ik
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,304
- US babies 2025
- 36
- Best rank
- #797 (1978)
- Peak year
- 1996
Meaning and origin of Tarik
Tarik is an Arabic name that means “night visitor; morning star”.
Tarik is a spelling of Tariq, an Arabic name often explained as "night visitor" or "morning star." It comes from the Quranic surah At-Tariq, which describes a piercing star that appears at night. Tariq ibn Ziyad, the commander who led the Muslim crossing into Spain in 711, gave his name to Gibraltar, from Arabic Jabal Tariq, "mountain of Tariq." It is said TAR-ik or tah-REEK. Tariq, Tarek and Tareq are related spellings. Forms of it are used across the Arab world, Turkey, Bosnia and South Asia.
Popularity over time
Tarik first appears in US Social Security records in 1958. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 11 different years, starting in 1973. Its best national rank was #797 in 1978, and the most babies received it in 1996, when 164 were named Tarik. In 2025, 36 babies were named Tarik, and it ranked #3,304 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,095 in 1980, #1,360 in 2000, #2,675 in 2010, and #3,304 in 2025. Of the 4,181 US boys named Tarik since records began, 29% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 764 babies. Since 2010, 722 more have been named Tarik.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Romello, Montel, Keion, Raquan, and Nicklaus.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Tarik is usually pronounced TAR-ik, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-ik”.
Middle names for Tarik
A few middle names that flow with Tarik: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Tarik
Similar names
Lists that include Tarik
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tarik mean?
Tarik is an Arabic name that means “night visitor; morning star”.
What is the origin of the name Tarik?
Tarik has Arabic roots. Tarik is a spelling of Tariq, an Arabic name often explained as "night visitor" or "morning star." It comes from the Quranic surah At-Tariq, which describes a piercing star that appears at night.
Is Tarik a popular name?
Not especially. Tarik ranked #3,304 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Tarik a boy or girl name?
Tarik is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Tarik?
Tarik is usually pronounced TAR-ik. 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