Hamza Name Meaning

In Lisan al-Arab, hamza is a sharp-tasting herb, and men were named after it; al-Qamus adds: the lion.

Root: حمز
Name: Boy's name
Also written: Hamzah · Hamzaa · حمزة

The story of the name, from the sources

Hamza comes from the root ha-meem-zay. Ibn Faris says it is one root: a sharpness in a thing, like a biting taste. One says: a drink that bites the tongue. And Lisan al-Arab says: hamza is a herb, and men were named after it. Al-Jawhari adds: a sharp-tasting herb.
“a sharpness in a thing, like a biting taste”
“a drink that bites the tongue”
a sharp-tasting herb
“Hamza is a herb, and men were named after it”
Maqayis al-Lugha · vol. 2, p. 103 · Lisan al-Arab · vol. 5, p. 339 · al-Sihah · vol. 3, p. 875
And in Taj al-Arus and al-Qamus al-Muhit, al-hamza is the lion, for its strength and hardness.
الحمزةُ: الأسد
“the lion, for its strength and hardness”
Taj al-Arus · vol. 15, pp. 116–120 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 509
Its most famous bearer is Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, may God be pleased with him, the Prophet's uncle, and also his brother by nursing: in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet, peace be upon him, says: Hamza is my brother by nursing. Ibn Sa'd reports that when Hamza heard Abu Jahl had insulted and hurt the Prophet, he came to the mosque in anger, and became Muslim, and through him the Messenger of God and the Muslims grew strong.
“Hamza is my brother by nursing”
the Prophet ﷺ
his uncle, and his milk-brother · “Hamza became Muslim, and through him the Messenger ﷺ and the Muslims grew strong”
Sahih Muslim 1448 · al-Isaba · vol. 2, p. 105 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 3, p. 6
Ibn Hajar writes in al-Isaba: the Prophet called him the Lion of God, and named him the master of martyrs. And al-Jahiz says: it is honour enough for the lion that Hamza's title was taken from its name.
أسدُ الله
“The Prophet ﷺ called him the Lion of God, and named him the master of martyrs”
Ibn Hajar
al-Jahiz: “It is honour enough for the lion that Hamza’s title was taken from its name”
al-Isaba · vol. 2, p. 106 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 3, p. 5 · al-Jahiz, al-Hayawan · vol. 1, p. 150

In short

حَمْزَة

sharpness and strength, a sharp-tasting herb, the lion, and the Lion of God

حَمْزَة

A keepsake of the name Hamza

A printable piece: Hamza in Arabic calligraphy, its root, and the dictionary line it comes from, with the book, volume and page.

Questions about the name Hamza

What does the name Hamza mean?

Ibn Faris gives the root as a sharpness in a thing, like a biting taste; Lisan al-Arab says hamza is a sharp herb and men were named after it, and Taj al-Arus and al-Qamus add: the lion, for its strength. In the film: Hamza, the Prophet's uncle and milk-brother, whom the Prophet ﷺ called the Lion of God (al-Isaba).

How do you write Hamza in Arabic?

Hamza is written حمزة in Arabic; also spelled Hamzah, Hamzaa.

What is the root of the name Hamza?

In the Arabic dictionaries, Hamza goes back to the root ح · م · ز.

How we researched it

18 books searched · 20 passages read

Maqayis al-Lugha
Lisan al-Arab
al-Sihah
Taj al-Arus
al-Qamus al-Muhit
Sahih Muslim
al-Isaba
al-Tabaqat al-Kubra
al-Hayawan

References, by volume and page

Maqayis al-Lugha · vol. 2, p. 103 · Lisan al-Arab · vol. 5, p. 339 · al-Sihah · vol. 3, p. 875
Taj al-Arus · vol. 15, pp. 116–120 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 509
Sahih Muslim 1448 · al-Isaba · vol. 2, p. 105 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 3, p. 6
al-Isaba · vol. 2, p. 106 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 3, p. 5 · al-Jahiz, al-Hayawan · vol. 1, p. 150

We never write “personality traits” of a name, luck or numerology: the dictionaries say nothing of the kind. We give the meaning as the book gives it, and name the book, volume and page.