Mecca

Mecca is the familiar English name of the Saudi Arabian city called Makkah in Arabic. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage, giving the place a central role in Islam. The oldest meaning of the place name is uncertain, so its documented religious and geographical identity is the most dependable explanation.

As a personal name, Mecca can express a connection with that sacred city or with a family’s religious heritage. Author Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is a notable bearer of the English spelling. Makkah is another form parents may encounter when reading about the city, with the choice of letters reflecting different transliteration traditions rather than a separate location.