Mubarak (name)


Mubarak is an Arabic given name. A variant form is Baraka or Barack, analogous to the Hebrew word "berech", meaning "knee", and derived from common Semitic roots for the concept of kneeling in praise/to receive a blessing. Mubarak is thus the Arabic equivalent in meaning of the Latinate word "Benedict".
Etymologically, the name is from the consonantal root B-R-K, meaning "knee", and verbally "to prostrate oneself", and hence "to receive blessing". The feminine noun barakah means "blessing". In Islam, and specifically within the Sufi tradition, it has a meaning similar to "charisma". The Hebrew cognate is berakhah.
The Biblical name Baruch is the Hebrew cognate; see Book of Baruch for an instance of the name.
The name is sometimes written differently in different countries; for example, the last name of singer Shakira is Mebarak.
When an Arabic name is used in other languages, the patronymic is often rendered as a last name. In other contexts, Mubarak is a proper last name.

Given name