Look up Attar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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
