Attar (name)

Attar (Arabic: عطار, ʿAṭṭār) is both an Arabic given name and a surname that refers to the occupations apothecary, pharmacist, spice dealer, or perfumer.

There is an exaggerated form related to this name, Atir or Ater (عاطِر ‘āṭir), meaning "perfumed, sweet-smelling, aromatic, fragrant", which is used rarely.

Both of these names are derived from the Arabic noun for perfume or fragrance, attar (or ittar).

Notable people with the name include:

• Abbas Attar (born 1944), Iranian photographer and photojournalist known by the mononym Abbas
• Attar of Nishapur (c.1142–c.1220), Persian Sufi poet
• Attar Singh, Fijian trade unionist of Indian descent
• Bachir Attar (born 1964), leader of The Master Musicians of Jajouka
• Chaim ibn Attar (1696–1743), Moroccan rabbi, Talmudist
• Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri (born 1950), Muslim scholar and spiritual leader
• Muhammad Said al-Attar (1927–2005), acting Prime Minister of Yemen for five months in 1994
• Najah al-Attar (born 1933), current Vice President of Syria
• Sibille Attar (born 1981), Swedish singer songwriter
• Suad al-Attar (born 1942), renowned Iraqi painter
• Zayn-e-Attar (died 1403), Persian physician

See also

• Attar (disambiguation)