Given name & surname
Nura
“a characteristic”·“woman of the light”
Nura is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a characteristic” and “woman of the light” (Arabic). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a characteristic” and “woman of the light” (Arabic). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Arabic, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1981. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nura through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 904
- 0 boys · 904 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 57 babies
- 2025
- 49
- #3,238 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 49 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,238 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 57 in 2019. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,035 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nura’s family of names
Nura has a related form in Noor. Nura has a related form in Nour. Nura has a related form in Nur.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nura
- Nura Bazdulj-HubijarBosnian writer (* 1951)
- Nura Abdullahiassociation football playerborn 1997
- NuraGerman rapperborn 1988
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nura, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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