Qayym

Qayym is a transliteration used for a word of Arabic origin that appears in personal names and religious terms. It derives from the root Q-Y-M, with core senses related to standing, being established, or maintaining. In Arabic, the form qayyim (قَيِّم) can mean upright, proper, or enduring, and it has cognates in various languages that adapt the vowel pattern to local pronunciation. The related form al-Qayyum completes a common religious expression.

In Islamic theology, Al-Qayyum is an attribute used for God, typically rendered as "The Self-Subsisting, Sustainer of all." The name occurs in Qur'anic phrases such as Al-Hayyul-Qayyum, describing God's perpetual existence and self-sufficiency. As a result, the term carries connotations of permanence and reliability in religious and literary contexts.

As a given name, Qayym and its variants are used in Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority societies, and across Turkish, Persian, Uzbek, and Kazakh communities. Differences in transliteration produce spellings such as Qayym, Qayyum, Qayim, Qaim, or Qaiym. In non-Arabic contexts the name is often adapted to local orthography while preserving the underlying meaning of steadiness or maintenance.

Because transliteration varies, individuals with this name can be found under several spellings in historical and contemporary records. The term may also appear in place names or families as a surname, depending on regional naming practices. In absence of a single canonical form, Qayym is best understood as a cross-cultural name rooted in the Arabic concept of steadiness and guardianship.