<P> Habib ( Arabic : حبيب ‎ , translit . ḥabīb ; Arabic pronunciation : ( ħabiːb ) ) , sometimes written as Habeeb , is an Arabic masculine given name and occasional surname with the meaning `` beloved '' . The name is popular throughout the Muslim World , though particularly in the Middle East and Africa . In other countries , especially in Yemen and Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei , Singapore , Indonesia and Malaysia , it is an honorific to address a Muslim scholar of Sayyid ( a descendant of Muhammad ) families . It is important to note that the name , as is the case with other Arabic names , is not confined to Muslims . Notable examples of Christian individuals named Habib include ' Habib the Deacon ' and Gabriel Habib and the Philosopher Habib . </P>
what is the meaning of the name habib
beloved