Moustapha

Meaning of Moustapha

Moustapha, a male given name of Arabic origin, finds its etymological root in the triliteral root Ṣ-F-W (ṣāfā), from which the participle mustafā—literally “the chosen one”—is derived, an epithet historically conferred upon the Prophet Muḥammad within classical Islamic tradition. The variant orthography Moustapha, shaped by French transliteration conventions, underscores a cross-cultural transmission extending from North African francophone regions to Muslim diasporas worldwide, including communities in the United States. Phonetically rendered as moos-TAH-fuh (/muːsˈtæfə/) in accordance with standard Arabic phonology, it maintains linguistic authenticity and analytical precision in onomastic study. Empirical data from the U.S. Social Security Administration reveal a modest yet steady usage—six to twenty-three registered births annually between 1995 and 2024, yielding rankings predominantly in the 700–900 range—thereby reflecting Moustapha’s sustained presence at the intersection of historical reverence, technical exactitude, and contemporary Anglo-American naming patterns.

Pronunciation

Arabic

• Pronunced as moos-TAH-fuh (/muːsˈtæfə/)

• Moustafa
• Mustafa