Meaning: Its source is Avraham, a Hebrew name meaning "Father of nations."

Languages: This boy's name is used in Arabic, Kiswahili and Urdu.

Variant Forms: Brahim and Ebrahim

Source Forms: Avraham

Popularity: The name Ibrahim ranked 648th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics.

Narrative: According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim (equivalent to the English name Abraham) was father to both the Jewish and Arab nations, the former through his son Isaac and the latter through his son Ishmael (known to the Arabs as Ismail).

Ibrahim and Ismail built the temple at Mecca which to this day is sacred to all Moslems. Known as the Kaaba, it contains a black stone Ibrahim received from the angel Gabriel. Moslems around the world face toward it when praying.