Meaning and history
Abdul Rahman is a common spelling of the Arabic masculine name ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, meaning “servant of the Most Merciful.” It combines ʿabd, “servant,” with al-Raḥmān, a Quranic name of God. Because Abdul grammatically belongs with Rahman, it should not be treated as an independent surname in this construction. Notable bearers include Saudi Arabian novelist Abdul Rahman Munif and Malaysian statesman Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first prime minister.