Miladi

Miladi is a surname and given name used primarily in Muslim communities across the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of North Africa. The name is derived from the Arabic root “m‑l‑d”, which relates to birth or origin, and it is sometimes interpreted to mean “born of the people” or simply “belonging to a particular lineage.” In many contexts, Miladi is pronounced with a soft “d” and can be written in Arabic as “ملادي.”

The name’s popularity grew in the 20th century as families sought identities that reflected both tribal affiliation and a broader Islamic heritage. It often appears as part of compound names, such as “Abu Miladi” or “Al-Miladi,” indicating ancestral ties. As a given name, it is less common but still encountered among younger generations in diverse diasporic communities.

Notable individuals bearing the name include Pakistani cricketer Amir Miladi, Iranian film director Farhad Miladi, and Jordanian activist Ramez Miladi, each contributing to sports, cinema, and civil society respectively. In addition to personal names, the term “miladi” appears occasionally in literary contexts as a descriptor of a secular or worldly perspective, contrasting with “ghulati”（devoted to religious studies).

Overall, Miladi functions as both a marker of cultural identity and a surname that signals a connection to an extended familial or ethnic group within predominantly Muslim societies.