Iftikhar as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Iftikhar

What is the meaning of the name Iftikhar ?

The baby name Iftikhar is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ɪfˈtɪxɑːr/ — if-TIKH-ar (kh = voiceless velar fricative, like Arabic خ).

Iftikhar is Arabic in Origin.

Iftikhar is a masculine Arabic and Persian name meaning “pride, honor, or glorious distinction,” from the triliteral root F-Kh-R (fakhr). It appears in classical Islamic usage as an honorific laqab in compounds such as Iftikhar al-Dawla (“Pride of the State”) and Iftikhar al‑Mulk, and later settled as a personal name across the Muslim world. The name is frequent in Urdu-speaking communities and remains familiar from medieval chronicles to modern public life.

Spellings vary by language and script: Iftikhar (standard/Urdu), Iftekhar (Bengali), Eftikhar or Eftekhar (Persian), and Iftikhor (Tajik/Central Asian). In Iran, Eftekhar also occurs as a surname. Common compound given names include Iftikhar Ahmed, Iftikhar Ali, and Iftikhar Hussain, and the affectionate nickname Ifti is widespread in South Asia. The name conveys esteem and self-respect without being theophoric, making it a culturally resonant yet nonsectarian choice.