Hassanal

Hassanal is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is a variant form of Hassan, a name meaning "handsome," "good," or "benevolent." The form Hassanal is used in various Muslim-majority regions and is common in Southeast Asia, where Arabic-derived names are frequently transliterated into Malay and Indonesian naming traditions. Hassanal can function as a standalone given name or appear as the first element of longer names, as in Hassanal Bolkiah.

A prominent bearer of the name is Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei. Born in 1946, he has reigned as Sultan since 1967 and has served as Brunei’s head of state and government since 1970. Brunei gained full independence from Britain in 1984 under his leadership. He resides at Istana Nurul Iman, reputed to be the world’s largest residential palace. His long rule has preserved a constitutional monarchy while Brunei maintains an extensive oil-driven economy and strict Islamic-influenced governance.

In usage, Hassanal appears in various transliterations and is related to names such as Hassan or Hasan. Variants and spellings vary by language and region, reflecting the cross-cultural transmission of Arabic-derived given names.

See also: Hassan, Hasan, Hasanal.