Abdi is a male name. It is a given name used in several countries with different origins. The Somali version of the name, used within Somalia and Ethiopia, translates to ‘Hope’. Among others, one version has Arabic has meaning which is loosely translated as 'servant of God'.

Arabic name

While Arabic speakers commonly use Abdu (عبده‎ / عبدو ʿabdu) rather than Abdi, both are nicknames for Abdul. It originates from the Arabic word عبد ال ʿabd al- / ʿabd el- / ʿabd ul-. The name translates as "servant of God"^[1] in reference to religious submission to Allah (God). As such, it is often used by Muslims around the world in conjunction with one of the names of God in Islam, but also sometimes on its own.^[1]

Biblical name

Abdi is the name of three men in the Hebrew Bible. In Hebrew, Abdi (עַבְדִּ֖י) literally means "my servant", but may be an abbreviation for "servant of "Yahweh".^[2]

• In 1 Chronicles 6:44 Abdi is a Levite of the family of Merari.
• In 2 Chronicles 29:12 Abdi is a Levite in the time of King Hezekiah of Judah. This may be the same man as in 1 Chronicles 6:44.
• In Ezra 10:26 Abdi is the son of Elam, and one of a long list of men who had married foreign wives, and who then sent them away together with their children.

Given name

• Abdi-Ashirta (14th century BC), Canaanite ruler of Amurru
• Abdi-Heba (14th century BC.), Canaanite chieftain of Jerusalem
• Abdi-Milkutti (7th century BC), Sidonian king
• Abdi-Riša (14th century BC), Phoenician ruler of Enišasi
• Abdi Behravanfar, Iranian singer-songwriter
• Abdi Bile (born 1962), Somali athlete, World Champion
• Abdi Faras (born 1989), Somali basketball player
• Abdi İpekçi (1929–1979), Turkish journalist
• Abdi Kassim, Zanzibari footballer
• Abdi Pasha (disambiguation), various Ottoman people
• Abdi Toptani (1864–1942), Albanian politician
• Abdi Haji Yaris, Somali politician

Middle name

• Hamza Abdi Barre (born 1972), prime minister of Somalia
• Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, Somali anthropologist and politician

Surname

• Abbas Abdi (born 1956), Iranian politician
• Abdi Sheik Abdi (born 1942), Somali author
• Guled Abdi, 1st Grand Sultan of the Isaaq clan
• Abed Abdi, Palestinian artist
• Akbar Abdi (born 1960), Iranian actor and comedian
• Almen Abdi (born 1986), Swiss footballer
• Bahador Abdi (born 1984), Iranian footballer
• Barkhad Abdi (born 1985), Somali American actor and director
• Behzad Abdi (born 1973), Iranian composer
• Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, Somali social activist
• Hawa Abdi (1947−2020), Somali physician and activist
• Nur nur Abdi Somali prince and politician
• Jumadi Abdi, Indonesian footballer
• Kamyar Abdi, Iranian archaeologist
• Mohammad Abdi, Iranian writer
• Nur Matan Abdi, Somali politician and military commander
• Ugbad Abdi, American fashion model
• Youcef Abdi (born 1977), Australian runner
• Yusuf Hassan Abdi, Somali politician, journalist and diplomat