Fun Facts About the Name Faisal
- More than 2 thousand babies named Faisal: U.S. records list 2,148 babies given the name Faisal from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Faisal Mean?
Faisal is an Arabic name meaning "decisive" or "arbiter." It comes from the Arabic root f-ṣ-l, seen in the verb faṣala ("to separate, distinguish, decide") and the noun faṣl ("a separation" or "a decisive judgment"). In Arabic the name is written فيصل (Fayṣal), and the sense is of a person who settles a matter or distinguishes right from wrong.
Faisal, Feisal, Faysal, and the North African French spelling Fayçal are transliterations of the same Arabic name rather than separate origins. The similar-sounding names sometimes found nearby have their own roots and are not related to this one.
Faisal Name History & Origins
Faisal belongs to the large group of Arabic names built from a verb root that also appears in religious vocabulary. The same root f-ṣ-l underlies the Qur'anic phrase yawm al-faṣl, "the Day of Decision," a name for the Day of Judgment. The given name itself is an ordinary Arabic noun turned into a personal name, and it has long been used across the Arabic-speaking world and among Muslims in other regions.
In modern times the name is closely associated with the Hashemite family. Faisal bin Hussein (1885 - 1933) led the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule in World War I and became King Faisal I of Iraq in 1921. His grandson Faisal II was Iraq's last king, reigning until 1958. In Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Abdulaziz ruled as king from 1964 until his assassination in 1975. These figures are well documented, though they are bearers of the name rather than its origin.
Because Arabic names travel with speakers, Faisal is now found in Jordan, Lebanon, the Gulf states, and North Africa, where the spelling Fayçal reflects French orthography. English-language use generally follows the Faisal or Feisal spellings.
How Popular is the Name Faisal?
Faisal has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2014. Its best rank was #1,577 in 1999.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,052 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2024 | #2,752 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 2023 | #3,365 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2022 | #2,624 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2021 | #3,036 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2020 | #2,478 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,532 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 2018 | #2,682 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2017 | #2,138 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #2,242 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 2015 | #2,121 | 66 | 0.0034% |
| 2014 | #1,818 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 2013 | #2,074 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 2012 | #1,926 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2011 | #2,088 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 2010 | #2,478 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2009 | #2,774 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2008 | #3,179 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 2007 | #2,546 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 2006 | #2,801 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 2005 | #2,342 | 50 | 0.0025% |
| 2004 | #2,507 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2003 | #2,591 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2002 | #2,523 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2001 | #2,320 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 2000 | #1,997 | 51 | 0.0026% |
| 1999 | #1,577 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 1998 | #2,134 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1997 | #2,002 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1996 | #2,229 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1995 | #2,263 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1994 | #2,094 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #1,831 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1992 | #1,986 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #2,109 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1990 | #2,392 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #1,906 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1988 | #1,961 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1987 | #2,079 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #1,853 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1985 | #2,089 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1984 | #2,250 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1983 | #2,109 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1982 | #2,075 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1981 | #1,963 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1980 | #2,570 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,408 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #2,404 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #1,964 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1976 | #2,071 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1975 | #2,674 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,401 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #3,080 | 11 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Faisal Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Faisal's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Faisal's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.