Given name & surname
Noor
“surrounded by light”
Noor is used as a given name and a surname. One Arabic interpretation is “surrounded by light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Arabic interpretation is “surrounded by light.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
How it developed
In French usage, Noor is a diminutive of Eleonora.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1979. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Noor through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,353
- 1,077 boys · 8,276 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 478 babies
- 2025
- 478
- #659 for girls · #2,917 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +23%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 11% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 435 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 659 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 23.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 43 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (64). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,240 as a first name in 2020; 4,605 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Noor’s family of names
In French usage, Noor is a diminutive of Eleonora. In Dutch usage, Noor has a related form in Nora. In English usage, Noor has a related form in Nour.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Noor has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Arabic roots to each of them.
4 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Noor
- Noor Inayat KhanWW2 SOE British agent (1914–1944)
- Noor JehanPakistani singer and actress (1920–2000)1926–2000
- Noor VidtsBelgian athletics competitorborn 1996
- Noor Al-RawabdehJordanian footballerborn 1997
- Noor Hassanaliformer President of Trinidad and Tobago (1918-2006)
- Noor SabriIraqi footballerborn 1984
- Noor Alamfield hockey player (1929–2003)
- Noor Ali ZadranAfghan cricketerborn 1988
- Noor BukhariPakistani actress and modelborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Noor, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nouri
Nouri is a surname from Persian.
25% boys · 75% girls
Marwa
Marwa is a feminine given name from Arabic.
>99% girls
Adhara
>99% girls
Safiya
“one who is pure” · “having the lion's share”
>99% girls
Hayat
“a lively woman; giver of life”
>99% girls
Nuran
Nuran is a feminine given name from Arabic. It is used in Turkish.
>99% girls
Alaia
“one who is majestic, of high worth” · “joy”
>99% girls
Macarena
“blessed, happy”
>99% girls