Tariq

Night visitor; one who knocks. The Arabic word also denotes a shining star.

Tariq is an Arabic masculine name whose meanings meet in the idea of an arrival after dark. A visitor comes at night; a star appears in the night sky. This gives the name more depth than a simple translation as “star”. The celestial connection also appears in At-Tariq, the 86th chapter of the Quran. Its opening verses describe al-ṭāriq as a star of piercing brightness. That image gives the name a luminous quality without tying it to one particular star. In the Arabic pronunciation, the long first vowel opens the name out before the shorter second syllable closes it neatly. To the ear, that balance can feel composed and decisive. It may appeal if you like a compact name with night-sky imagery but a firm rather than airy sound. Tarek, Tareq and Tarik are other recorded spellings of the Arabic name; Tariq keeps the final q visible.

Etymology: From Arabic ṭaraqa, used for knocking at a door and coming by night. The name is written طارق.