Abdurrahman is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is composed of two elements: "abd" which means "slave" or "servant," and "ar-Rahman," one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam, meaning "the Most Merciful." Therefore, Abdurrahman translates to " slave of the Most Merciful."
The name Abdurrahman has a rich history dating back to the early centuries of Islam. It was borne by several notable figures throughout Islamic history, including Abdurrahman III (889-961 AD), the first caliph of Córdoba in Muslim Spain, who is remembered for his patronage of arts and culture during his reign.
Another prominent figure with this name is Abdurrahman Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 AD), a renowned Islamic philosopher, historian, and sociologist from Tunis. His work "Muqaddimah" ("Introduction") is considered one of the seminal works in the fields of sociology and history.
The name Abdurrahman has also been popular among royalty and nobility throughout the Muslim world. For instance, Abdurrahman Khan (1857-1901 AD) was the emir of Afghanistan from 1880 to 1901.
In modern times, the name continues to be widely used in countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and Nigeria. It is often bestowed upon children in the hope that they will grow up to embody the qualities associated with Allah's mercy and compassion.
"The name Abdurrahman saw a significant increase in popularity from the mid-1990s onwards, with a notable spike starting from 1995 until peaking in 2006 and 2010, after which it maintained a consistent level of usage."