Abdel

Abdel is a masculine given-name element common in Arabic onomastics. It derives from the Arabic word abd meaning “servant” and the definite article al-, forming theophoric names that mean “servant of God.” In Arabic, Abd al- is usually part of a longer name such as Abd al-Rahman (servant of the Most Merciful) or Abd al-Aziz (servant of the Mighty). The form Abdel is a transliteration variant used especially in Francophone and Maghrebi contexts, where the al- is often rendered as el or joined to the following element (for example, Abdelrahman, Abdelaziz, Abdelkader). As a result, Abdel can appear as the first element of a composite name, or less commonly, as a standalone given name in some communities.

Spelling and pronunciation vary by language and region. Common variants include Abdel, Abdellah, Abdul-, Abdu-, and Abdel- in different transliteration schemes. In Arabic script, the full elements are typically written as عبد ال, with the specific theophoric name following.

Notable people with the name element appear across the Arab world and its diaspora. Examples include Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt since 2014, and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the former President of Algeria. The prefix also appears in many other names, reflecting a tradition of forming names that express devotion to God and identify individuals within a shared cultural and linguistic heritage.