Nabi

♀ Girl

Pronounced NAH-bee /ˈnɑ.bi/Medium

Meaning: From Korean nabi, 'a butterfly'; also Arabic nabi, 'a prophet' (a sacred sense); here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A butterfly: Nabi is Korean for 'a butterfly' — soft and free. (In Arabic it means 'prophet', a sacred sense we note.) Used for both sexes.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumKorean, Arabic

MeaningFrom Korean nabi, 'a butterfly'; also Arabic nabi, 'a prophet' (a sacred sense); here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#7391 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births15 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 79

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

Nabi comes from Korean nabi, 'a butterfly' — a soft, free-spirited nature name. The same sound is Arabic nabi, 'a prophet' (a sacred sense, which we note honestly; routes layered). Used for both sexes, here for girls.

In the U.S. it appears in Korean and Muslim families. Rare, a-butterfly at the (Korean) root, and delicate.

Did you know? Nabi means 'a butterfly' in Korean — soft and free-spirited; in Arabic the same sound means 'a prophet', a sacred sense we note. A delicate, cross-cultural name.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Nabi — routes layered

Variations

NabeeNabie

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nabi…

Nari— a fellow Korean girls' name

Hana— another soft Korean name

Yuna— a fellow Korean girls' name

Nada— shares Nabi's Arabic roots

Azul— another nature pick

Explore names like Nabi

By themeuncertain arabic nature korean

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nabi mean?

Nabi is Korean for 'a butterfly'; in Arabic it means 'a prophet' (a sacred sense). The routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Nabi?

It's said NAH-bee /ˈnɑ.bi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nabi a boy or girl name?

Nabi is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Nabi?

Nabi is a rare name in the U.S.