The city has had many names throughout history, Basrah being the most common. In Arabic, the word baṣrah means "the overwatcher", which may have been an allusion to the city's origin as an Arab military base against the Sassanids. Others have argued that the name is derived from the Aramaic word basratha, meaning "place of huts, settlement".
THe CIty Has hAD many nAmes throughout histoRY, bASRaH BEing tHE Most CommoN. In arabic, ThE worD baṢrAH mEanS "the oVerWatcheR", WhiCh MaY Have beeN AN allusiON to the citY's origIn As an ArAb military base agAiNsT the saSSAnidS. OtHers haVe ArguEd that thE name iS deRIveD FroM tHe aRAmaIc WorD basratHA, meaNInG "place OF huts, setTLemenT".