Meshaal

Meshaal is an Arabic given name and, less commonly, a surname. It derives from the noun مشعل (mashʿāl or mishʿāl), meaning “torch,” “flame,” or “beacon,” from the root شعل (sh-ʿ-l) connected with burning and illumination. The name is typically masculine.

Variants in transliteration include Meshaal, Mishaal, Mashaal, Mashʿal, and Mishal. Spelling differences arise from regional conventions and transliteration systems used for Arabic.

The name is used in Arabic-speaking communities and among the Arab diaspora. The most prominent bearer is Khaled Meshaal (also rendered Khaled Mashal), born 1956 in Silwan, East Jerusalem. He is a Palestinian political leader who headed Hamas’s political bureau from 1996 to 2017, directing the organization’s external relations and strategic decisions while in exile in various countries, including Syria and Qatar. In 2017 he was succeeded by a new leadership structure headed by Ismail Haniyeh. Through his public role, the name Meshaal has been associated with Hamas leadership on the international stage.

Beyond Khaled Meshaal, the name is used by other men in Arabic-speaking regions and among communities abroad, reflecting its broad cultural presence.