Mustafa Boy

Popularity: #617 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: moos-TAH-fah //mʊsˈtɑːfə//

Origin: Arabic; Turkish

Meaning: Arabic: 'the chosen one'; Turkish: 'one who is worthy'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Mustafa has its roots in Arabic, derived from the verb 'ṣṭafa', which means 'to choose' or 'to select'. The name itself translates to 'the chosen one' or 'the selected one'.

It is a significant name in Islamic culture, often associated with the Prophet Muhammad, who is frequently referred to as 'Mustafa' in various texts, emphasizing his chosen status as a prophet. The name entered the English language through the influence of Arabic during the Middle Ages, particularly through the interactions between Islamic and European cultures, including the Crusades and the subsequent translations of Arabic texts into Latin and other European languages.

Historically, the name has been borne by various notable figures throughout Islamic history. One of the earliest and most prominent uses of the name is attributed to the Prophet Muhammad himself, who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries CE.

The name gained further prominence during the Ottoman Empire, where it was commonly used among sultans and other nobility, reflecting its esteemed status. The Ottoman Empire, which lasted from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, played a crucial role in the dissemination of the name across different regions, particularly in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Culturally, Mustafa carries connotations of honor and respect, often linked to leadership and moral integrity. The name is deeply embedded in Islamic tradition, where it symbolizes a divine selection, thus holding significant spiritual weight.

Its use in various forms, such as the diminutive 'Musti', reflects its adaptability and enduring presence in various cultures influenced by Islam. The name's historical and cultural resonance contributes to its lasting significance in many societies, particularly in Muslim-majority countries.

Famous people named Mustafa

In this section, you will find notable people named Mustafa. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Mustafa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Mustafa who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a revolutionary leader best known for founding the Republic of Turkey, implementing reforms, and modernizing the nation.

Mustafa Ali is a professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE and his performances in 205 Live.

Mustafa Shakir is an actor best known for his roles in Luke Cage, The Deuce, and The Night Of.

Mustafa Sandal is a Turkish pop singer best known for his albums and hit songs in the Turkish music scene.

Mustafa Cengiz is a businessman best known for being the president of Galatasaray S.K.

Fictional characters named Mustafa

The following list of fictional characters named Mustafa is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Mustafa is a fictional character from the animated film Aladdin. He is a wise and powerful genie who helps Aladdin on his journey.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mustafa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Mustafa. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Mustafa was first seen in the United States in 1963.

Mustafa has ranked as high as #1554 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Mustafa has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Mustafa is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Mustafa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Mustafa.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 339 339
2024 304 304
2023 263 263
2022 275 275
2021 261 261
2020 194 194
2019 211 211
2018 240 240
2017 235 235
2016 234 234
2015 238 238
2014 235 235
2013 231 231
2012 228 228
2011 215 215
2010 176 176
2009 197 197
2008 147 147
2007 187 187
2006 157 157
2005 152 152
2004 146 146
2003 150 150
2002 170 170
2001 154 154
2000 145 145
1999 121 121
1998 136 136
1997 119 119
1996 117 117
1995 100 100
1994 107 107
1993 86 86
1992 72 72
1991 82 82
1990 76 76
1989 75 75
1988 63 63
1987 63 63
1986 55 55
1985 64 64
1984 55 55
1983 63 63
1982 69 69
1981 67 67
1980 59 59
1979 44 44
1978 47 47
1977 42 42
1976 23 23
1975 20 20
1974 9 9
1973 7 7
1972 6 6
1971 13 13
1970 8 8
1968 8 8
1967 5 5
1963 8 8

Top States for Mustafa (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 43
16%
IL 36
14%
CA 32
12%
TX 18
7%
MI 18
7%
NJ 17
6%
MN 17
6%
PA 15
6%
VA 15
6%
OH 12
5%
MD 9
3%
IN 8
3%
WA 8
3%
WI 6
2%
GA 5
2%
TN 5
2%