Namesake.

Nour

نُور
Unisex Arabic /NOOR/ #1884 in 2023

Nour is a unisex name of Arabic origin.

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Meaning of Nour

"Light, brightness." The 24th surah of the Qur'an is titled An-Nūr and contains the famous "Verse of Light" (24:35). An-Nūr is one of the 99 Names of Allah. Used for both boys and girls, with a strong female lean in the US.

Arabic root: n-w-r — (ن-و-ر, light)

Regional variants

"Noor" is the dominant US spelling. Often compounded: Noor al-Huda, Noor al-Iman.

Popularity of Nour

Popularity, 1981–2023
125 births in 2023
1981 2023

3,179 U.S. births recorded from 1981–2023. Used for both boys and girls — see notes below.

Peak year
2008
137 babies
First recorded
1981
42 years of history
Recent trend
Steady
Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Qur’anic concept

نُور

Nūr

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.

From the Qur’an

"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."

— Qur’an, An-Nur 24:35

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).

Variants & nicknames

NoorNur

Related guide

30 Quranic Baby Names for Boys and Girls (With Verses)

30 names drawn from the Qur’an — prophets, named and referenced women, and meaningful Arabic concepts — each with its verse reference and classical meaning.

Read the full guide →
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Famous people named Nour

  • Queen Noor of Jordan

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About this page

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.