Kazi

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAH-zee /ˈkɑː.zi/Medium

Meaning: From the Arabic qadi, 'judge' — a title carried into Bengali, Urdu and other languages as Kazi (Qazi). In South Asia it is chiefly a surname and honorific, as in the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, rather than a given name; its use as a first name is modern, which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A title with weight: Kazi means 'judge,' from the Arabic qadi (said 'KAH-zee'). Traditionally a surname — we note that honestly.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumBengali, Arabic

MeaningFrom the Arabic qadi, 'judge' — a title carried into Bengali, Urdu and other languages as Kazi (Qazi). In South Asia it is chiefly a surname and honorific, as in the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, rather than a given name; its use as a first name is modern, which we note honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#14307 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 143

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kazi (Qazi) descends from the Arabic qadi, 'judge,' a title that travelled with Islamic law into Bengali, Urdu, Persian and beyond. Across South Asia it functions chiefly as a surname and honorific — the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is the most famous bearer — rather than as a given name. Its use as a first name is modern, and we note that honestly (said 'KAH-zee').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a girls' first name. Rare, dignified, and traditionally a surname.

Did you know? Kazi comes from qadi, the Arabic word for a judge. In Bengal it is best known as a surname — the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam bore it — and its use as a first name is a modern development, which we note.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Kazi — Arabic qadi, 'judge'; Bengali/Urdu surname and title

Variations

QaziKajiQadi

Nicknames

KazZeeKazzy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kazi…

Kaziah— a like Kaz- opening in sound

Azi— a like short z-bright pick

Nazia— a like South Asian girls' name

Kobi— another Bengali name

Kenza— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Kazi

By themearabic rare bengali

By meaningGift / Blessing Truth Honor Leader

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kazi mean?

Kazi means 'judge,' from the Arabic qadi, carried into Bengali and Urdu.

How do you pronounce Kazi?

It's said KAH-zee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kazi a boy or girl name?

Kazi is used here as a girl's first name; in South Asia it is chiefly a surname and title, which we note.

How popular is Kazi?

Kazi is very rare as a girls' first name in the U.S., and far more familiar as a surname in South Asia.