Habib

[3] It also forms the famous Arabic word ‘Habibi’ which is used to refer to a friend or a significant other in the aspect of love or admiration.

The name is popular throughout the Muslim World, though particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

In other countries, especially in Yemen and Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, it is an honorific to address a Muslim scholar of Sayyid (a descendant of Muhammad) families and where it is one of the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad – حبيب الله Habib Allah (Habibullah/ Habiballah) - "Most Beloved of Allah (God)".

The name stems from the Arabic verb ḥabba (حَبَّ), meaning to "love", "admire, be fond of".

Another variant which is used as a given name and adjective of the stem from that verb is "maḥbūb" (مَحْبُوب) meaning "well-beloved", commonly written as Mahbub, the female equivalent Mahbuba (Arabic: maḥbūbah مَحْبُوبَة).