"Light, radiance." Feminine of Noor. Also a standalone name with independent roots in Irish (from Honora, "honor") — a true cross-cultural convergence.
N"Light, radiance." Feminine of Noor. Also a standalone name with independent roots in Irish (from Honora, "honor") — a true cross-cultural convergence.
Arabic root: n-w-r — ن-و-ر, light
"Nora" reads as Irish/European to most Americans but is simultaneously a valid Arabic name. Ideal for mixed-heritage families who want a name that works in every context.
Nūr means light — both literal and the spiritual light of faith and guidance. Sura 24 is named An-Nūr after the celebrated "Verse of Light," one of the most frequently recited passages in the Qur’an. The name works for girls or boys across many Muslim cultures.
""Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree… light upon light.""
An-Nūr is also one of the 99 Names of Allah. Nur can be combined into compound names like Nur al-Huda (light of guidance) or Nur al-Din (light of the faith).
Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.