Origin and history of Kufic
Kufic is named after Kufa, a garrison city in southern Iraq founded in 638, although angular Arabic writing was in use across the early Islamic world before it earned that name. Between the 7th and 10th centuries it was the prestige script for copying the Qur'an on parchment, usually in wide horizontal pages with few dots or vowel signs.
Because its straight lines were easy to carve, Kufic spread to coins, tombstones, textiles and building facades. Over time regional versions developed, from the floriated Kufic of Egypt to the square Kufic of Persian brickwork, and it remains a major source of inspiration for modern Arabic type and logo designers.
How to recognise Kufic letters
- Straight lines and sharp corners dominate; curves are reduced to short arcs or right angles.
- Letters are built on a strong horizontal baseline, often with long, flat connecting strokes.
- Vertical letters such as alif and lam stand tall and upright like columns.
- Stroke thickness is nearly uniform, giving a carved or constructed rather than handwritten look.
Where Kufic calligraphy is used
Historically Kufic appears on early Qur'an folios, the Dome of the Rock inscriptions, Umayyad coins and mosque tiles. Today it is the go-to style for Arabic logos, shop signs, sports branding, architectural lettering and geometric tattoos, because it reads as bold and modern while still carrying historical weight.
Tips for writing names in Kufic
- Kufic favours strong horizontals, so names with connecting letters like Mohammed, Hamza or Salma produce a long, balanced shape.
- Names with many separate letters (for example Dawud or Rania) break into blocks; the square canvas keeps those blocks centred.
- If you want a logo-like name mark, keep the word short and use a single solid colour so the geometry stays crisp.