Holding steady, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Tareq since 1980
Babies named Tareq per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 53 |
| 1990s | 101 |
| 2000s | 103 |
| 2010s | 83 |
| 2020s | 23 |
Meaning & origin
Tareq is a name with deep Arabic roots, firmly established across the Muslim world. In the United States, its use has remained stable since the 1990s, with a peak year in 1991. As of 2025, it ranks 10,695th nationally, a testament to its modest but persistent presence among Arabic-derived names in America. The name carries the powerful legacy of Tariq ibn Ziyad, the general whose name was immortalized in Gibraltar. Though not among the most common Arabic names in the U.S., Tareq offers a dignified choice for families seeking a connection to Islamic history and culture.
Tareq is the English transliteration of the Arabic name طارق (Tariq). It derives from the Arabic root ṭaraqa, meaning "to knock" or "to strike." The name is famously associated with the morning star (a night visitor) and with Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Umayyad general who led the Islamic conquest of Visigothic Hispania in 711 CE, giving his name to Gibraltar (from Jabal Tariq, "mountain of Tariq"). It has been consistently used across the Arabic-speaking world and among Muslim communities globally.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tari, T
Sibling names for Tareq
Names that share Tareq's style, for a brother or sister.
