A country or region’s last names are a window into their history and culture, and Pakistan is no exception. Located in South Asia, Pakistan is the world’s fifth-most populous country — home to more than 212.2 million people, as well the second-largest Muslim population. There are three categories of Pakistani last names: those that follow the Arab naming convention, tribal names, and ancestral names. The names themselves can also vary pretty widely, depending on a family’s ethnicity, spoken language, and geographic location. Many have Persian, Turkish, or Arabic origins.
Pakistani last names often include a prefix or suffix, which provides additional information about a family. For example, the prefix “Haji-” means that someone has made the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, while “Mir-” indicates royal descent, and “Syed-” is used for people belonging to the family of Muhammad. Similarly, the suffix “-dad” means “given by,” and “-bakhsh” means “granted by.” To learn more, take a look at these popular Pakistani last names, along with their meanings and origins.
If you’re interested in Pakistani names you’re going to love its culture. It’s a huge melting pot filled with Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central Asian, South Asian, and Western Asian culture. There are more than 70 languages actively spoken and they take great pride in their craftsmanship. Their Arabic calligraphy can be found in buildings, on copper works, in paintings, and on carved wood. Sports are also a big deal in the middle eastern country. They have one of the world’s best cricket teams and hockey, squash and badminton are also very popular. Polo is a common sport in some pockets of Pakistan as well. And make sure you add “attend a Pakistani wedding,” to your bucket list because they also know how to throw a party! Their weddings can last anywhere between three to six days. Imagine three whole days of amazing food, music, and a never-ending dance party?
Interested in other popular last names, along with their meanings and origins? Check out our pages on Irish last names, Japanese last names, French last names, Scottish last names, Italian last names, and more.
- Aamir
Transcription: عامر
Meaning: From the name ‘Aamir, meaning “replete, full”
Origin: Urdu - Abdul
Transcription: عبدال
Meaning: Servant of
Origin: Arabic - Achakzai
Transcription: اڅکزی
Meaning: Son of Achak
Origin: Pashto - Adil
Transcription: عادل
Meaning: Just
Origin: Arabic, Urdu - Advani
Transcription: आडवाणी
Meaning: Descendant of Adu
Origin: Indian, Sindhi - Agarwal
Transcription: اگروال
Meaning: Someone originally from the town of Agroha in Haryana state, India
Origin: Hindi/Punjabi - Akhtar
Transcription: اختر
Meaning: Star
Origin: Persian - Alakozai
Transcription: الکوزۍ
Meaning: Son of Alako
Origin: Pashto - Alam
Transcription: علم, عالم
Meaning: World, universe
Origin: Arabic, Bengali, Urdu, Persian - Arora
Transcription: अरोड़ा
Meaning: From the ancient city of Aror, now the Sindh province of Pakistan; from Hindi meaning “more, also”
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi - Ashiq
Transcription: عاشق
Meaning: Enamored, infatuated; admirer, lover
Origin: Punjabi, Urdu - Azmat
Transcription: عظمت
Meaning: Majesty, glory
Origin: Urdu - Bai
Transcription: बाई
Meaning: Lady
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Baig
Transcription: بیگ
Meaning: Ruler, chief, lord, master
Origin: Indian, Turkish - Bajwa
Transcription: باجوا
Meaning: Great hawk
Origin: Persian - Bakshi
Transcription: بخشی
Meaning: Paymaster, scribe, secretary
Origin: Indian, Bengali, Punjabi - Bansal
Transcription: वंश
Meaning: Lineage, clan, race; bamboo
Origin: Indian, Sanskrit - Begum
Transcription: بیگم
Meaning: Lady, madam
Origin: Indian, Persian - Bhagat
Transcription: भगत
Meaning: Devotee, worshipper
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Bhasin
Transcription: भसीन
Meaning: Ray of light, sun
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Bux
Transcription: بخش
Meaning: Fortune; section, portion, part
Origin: Urdu, Persian, Sindhi - Chand, Chanda
Transcription: چند, چندا
Meaning: Moon
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu - Chauhan
Transcription: चौहान
Meaning: Four (Sanskrit); hero
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Devi
Transcription: देवी
Meaning: Goddess, female deity
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Gandhi
Transcription: गांधी
Meaning: Perfume seller
Origin: Sanskrit - Gul
Transcription: گُل
Meaning: Flower or rose
Origin: Pakistani, Pashto - Haq
Transcription: حق
Meaning: Real, true
Origin: Arabic - Imam
Transcription: امام
Meaning: Leader, guide
Origin: Arabic/Bengali - Jafri
Transcription: جفري
Meaning: Yellow Flower
Origin: Persian, Arabic - Jha
Transcription: झा
Meaning: Teacher
Origin: Sanskrit - Junejo
Transcription: جونیجو
Meaning: Sons of Juno
Origin: Pakistani, Sindhi - Kakar
Transcription: کاکړ
Meaning: This is the name of a Gharghashti Pashtun tribe, which is based mostly in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan, and Loy Kandahar in Afghanistan.
Origin: Pashto, Urdu, Hindi - Kamaliazad
Transcription: کمالیہ زاد
Meaning: Perfection of the free, or independent
Origin: Pakistani, Persian - Kapoor
Transcription: कपूर
Meaning: Camphor
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punajabi - Kazimi
Transcription: کاظمی
Meaning: This name is commonly associated with the family of Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s great-grandson Imam Musa al-Kadhim.
Origin: Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India - Khalil
Transcription: خليل
Meaning: Friend
Origin: Arabic - Khalsa
Transcription: خالصة
Meaning: To be pure, to be clear
Origin: Indian (Sikh), Persian - Khan
Transcription: خان
Meaning: This is the title given to rulers and officials in central Asia, Afghanistan, and some Muslim countries. A king; a prince; a chief; a governor.
Origin: Turkish Khan - Khokhar
Transcription: خوخار
Meaning: This is the name of an agricultural community of the Punjab region in India.
Origin: India - Kumari
Transcription: कुमारी
Meaning: Young girl, daughter, princess
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Mahajan
Transcription: महाजन
Meaning: Great number of people
Origin: Sanskrit - Malek
Transcription: مالک
Meaning: This name refers to people from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and the Haryana region in India and Pakistan.
Origin: India, Pakistan - Musharaff
Transcription: مشرف
Meaning: Supervisor, elevated, honored
Origin: Arabic - Niazi
Transcription: نیازی
Meaning: Desire, wish; friend
Origin: Persian - Pathak
Transcription: पाठक
Meaning: Learner, reader
Origin: Sanskrit - Qayyum
Transcription: القيوم
Meaning: Subsistence, independent, sustainer
Origin: Arabic - Rajput
Transcription: راجپوت
Meaning: Prince, son of a king
Origin: Sanskrit - Seth
Transcription: सेठ
Meaning: Appointed one, placed
Origin: Hindi
