Faisal
From the root f-ṣ-l, 'to separate, to decide' — the arbiter whose judgement is final, and by extension a cutting sword.
- Root
- f-ṣ-l (ف-ص-ل)
- Gender
- Male
- Meaning
- The decisive arbiter; a sword that severs
- Origin
- Arabic
Meaning and root
From f-ṣ-l (ف-ص-ل), 'to separate, to distinguish, to decide'. A *fayṣal* is what settles a matter: an arbiter whose ruling ends the dispute, and by extension a sword that cuts clean through.
Related vocabulary
The same root gives *faṣl* ('a chapter, a separation'), *tafṣīl* ('detail') and the genealogical term faṣīla — the kin group set apart as a man's nearest.
Usage
Common across the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Arab world.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Faisal mean?
The decisive one — an arbiter whose judgement settles a dispute, from the root f-ṣ-l, 'to separate, to decide'.
Sources
- ابن منظور، لسان العرب، 711هـ — مادة: فصل
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27