The root ن و ر: light
The root ن و ر (nūn, wāw, rā) gives several names:
- نُور Nur (girls and boys): light. An-Nūr is one of the names of Allah, and Surah An-Nur (chapter 24) takes its name from it
- مُنِير Munir (boys) / مُنِيرَة Munirah (girls): radiant, giving light
- أَنْوَر Anwar (boys): brighter, most radiant
- نُورَا Noora / Nura (girls): a popular form of Nur
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
Siraj and Munir: the lamp
The Quran describes the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as “a lamp spreading light”:
وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُّنِيرًا“And one who invites to Allah by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.”
Both words are used as names: سِرَاج Siraj (lamp) for boys, and Munir or Munirah (illuminating).
Diya: brilliant light
ضِيَاء Diya (also spelled Ziya) means brilliant light. The Quran uses it for the light of the sun, while it uses nūr for the light of the moon:
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا“It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light.”
Names from the night sky
- بَدْر Badr (boys): the full moon. Also the site of the Battle of Badr (Quran 3:123)
- قَمَر Qamar (girls and boys): moon. Surah Al-Qamar is chapter 54
- نَجْم Najm (boys): star. Surah An-Najm is chapter 53
- كَوْكَب Kawkab: a shining star or planet, mentioned in the dream of Yusuf (Quran 12:4)
- فَجْر Fajr: dawn. Surah Al-Fajr is chapter 89
Zahra: radiant
زَهْرَاء Zahra means bright, radiant or shining. It is best known as a title of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, Fatimah az-Zahra. It is a popular girls’ name on its own.
A note on combined names
Some families like combined names such as Nur al-Huda (light of guidance). If you choose one, make sure the meaning is sound and does not describe a person in a way that belongs only to Allah. A teacher or imam can help you check.
