Gamal

Gamal is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is a variant transliteration of Jamal, derived from the Arabic root ج-م-ل (j-m-l), which conveys beauty, grace, and elegance. In Arabic, جمال (jamāl) means beauty, and the name is commonly understood as “handsome” or “graceful.” Spelling varies by language and transliteration system, with common forms including Gamal, Jamal, Gamel, or Jamel.

Use and distribution: The name is widely used in Egypt and across the Arab world, as well as among Muslim communities elsewhere. It is typically a given name rather than a surname, though there are instances of family names derived from it. The form Gamāl with a macron is sometimes used in scholarly or formal Western texts to indicate the long a sound.

Notable people: Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970) was an Egyptian officer and president who led the 1952 coup and pursued pan-Arab and anti-imperialist policies, including the nationalization of the Suez Canal and major domestic reforms. Gamal Mubarak (born 1963) is the son of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and has been involved in business and public life in Egypt. Gamal al-Ghitani (1945–2015) was an Egyptian novelist and journalist known for works such as Zayni Barakat and other literary contributions.

See also: Jamal, a variant spelling; Jamil.