Pakistani name

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See also: List of Pakistani family names

In Pakistan, and other Muslim countries, the family names are not as prominent as Western countries. The use of two given names to serve as first name and surname is followed from Arab Muslim customs. The majority of Pakistani names are derived from Arabs, Arabic language, Turks, Afghan and Persian and Hindu origin. Tribal and family names are also widely used and are often derivatives of pre Islamic and usually Hindu clan or caste names . The titles are also used as surnames in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

Muhammad bin Ahmad means Muhammad son of Ahmad similar to Fatima bint Muhammad means Fatima daughter of Ahmad. In Pakistan and other Muslim countries bin and bint is dropped. The chosen first name of the child, plus the first name of the father, forms the name of the child. For example:

                        Muhammad Ahmad
                            |
            ------------------------------------
            |                                  |
       Ali Muhammad                         Omar Muhammad
            |                                  |
      --------------                  ------------------------------
      |            |                  |               |            |
 Hussain Ali   Osman Ali         Akbar Omar    Hassan Omar      Fatima Omar ----- Abdul Hashim
                                                               (Fatima Abdul)

In this case, the father's first name becomes his sons' surname and this tradition has been passed down to their sons. The daughter also follows the same custom but after marriage she takes her husband's first name as her second part of her name. In the above case Fatima Omar changes her name to Fatima Abdul after marrying Abdul Hashim.

There are several titles used in Pakistan and other Muslim countries. Shaikh, Khawaja, Pasha, Mirza etc. are common.

The problem with these naming conventions is that it is difficult to trace back family roots. Many Muslims have settled in Western world and this naming convention creates difficulty as father will have different surname or family name from his children. However the exception to this predictament exists for familys still continuing to use Hindu surnames .

[edit] See also

• List of Pakistani family names
• Arabic name
• Punjabi Muslim tribes from Hindu Lineage