If someone's first name is followed by another word that describes one of his qualities, can we call it 'Epithet'? This is usual in the Arabic language. An example is:
Rashid Ghani
The word Ghani means: "rich"
So, is the word "Ghani" an epithet?
Someone said to me: it is a suffix. I didn't agree because it is not a suffix. A suffix occurs at the end of a word e.g. (wonder-ful, depend-ent, act-ion); and, it is a part of that word.
Before reading your question, I didn't know that "epithet" could mean anything other than "disparaging or abusive word or phrase".
Merriam-Webster has this to say:
Nowadays, epithet is usually used negatively, with the meaning "a disparaging word or phrase," but it wasn't always that way. Epithet comes from Greek epitithenai, meaning "to put on" or "to add." In its oldest sense, epithet is simply a descriptive word or phrase, especially one joined by fixed association to the name of someone or something, as in "Ivan the Great" or the Homeric phrase "wine-dark sea."
So it seems that "Ghani" is an epithet, but I think few English speakers today would understand the meaning, and most would think you'd used the wrong word.
English doesn't tend to use words in that way, so we don't have a common term for it that everyone understands. Some near terms include title, title of respect, honorary title, or honorific. None of them, however, make exactly clear what you're talking about since we barely have this concept in English.
Your example of the name 'Rashid Ghani', where you say that 'Ghani' means 'rich', just sounds like a personal name to me, either given or assumed.
The word 'epithet' is really defined as "an adjective added to a person's name or a phrase used instead of it". Examples from history would include "William the Conqueror", or "Ivan the Terrible", who gained these epithets by reputation. Modern examples might include sportspersons such as William "The Refridgerator" Perry, who I believe was so-called because of his physical stature.
In direct answer to your question, unless this word meaning 'rich' directly describes the person, then I'd have to say no - it is not an 'epithet', even if it derives from some adjective or title. Epithets are normally earned through actions and reputation.
In western cultures, there are many surnames that derive from historic professions, statuses and the like. For example, occupations like Baker and Cooper (someone who makes barrels) are common surnames today, likely handed down through generations from an ancestor who actually did those jobs. If someone named 'Baker' today was by trade a baker, this would likely be a coincidence, unless the trade had stayed in the family for centuries. So, these are not 'epithets', even though they may have derived from one. Similarly, given names (forenames) that have meanings are not really epithets, because the person may not live up to them!
I am aware that, in some cultures, people take on new names at various stages in their life which may reflect a change in status. Even so, unless they directly describe the person in a unique, identifying way, rather than just a generic title that means they are a husband or a wife, for example, then I would still argue it is not a true epithet.
