seif

Seif is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning sword. The root سيف appears in classical Arabic and has long been used symbolically to denote strength, authority, and protection. People bearing the name are common in Arabic-speaking communities, with variants in transliteration.

Variant spellings include Saif, Sayf, Seyf, and Seif; in some languages the name is adapted as part of compound forms such as Seif al-Din or Sayf al-Din, meaning Sword of the Faith. These compounds are used in historical contexts and in literature, and they often carry honorific or aspirational connotations.

The name is widely found across the Arab world and in Muslim communities worldwide, particularly in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and in North Africa. It is used for boys at birth and has remained in cultural use in modern times, including among the diaspora.

Although primarily a given name, Seif can appear as a surname in some families, reflecting Arabic naming traditions where personal names are reused as family identifiers.

In contemporary use, Seif appears in literature, film, journalism, and everyday life as a personal name, and it is often found in compound names that convey noble attributes. Related names share the same root and meaning, including Saif, Seyf, and Sayf.