Choosing a name from the Qur’an can mean different things. Some parents want a female name that is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an, while others are looking for an Arabic name whose meaning comes from a Qur’anic word or concept.
Those are not exactly the same thing.For example, Maryam is a female personal name explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an and is the central female figure of Surah Maryam.
By contrast, Huda means “right guidance” and is a Qur’anic word that is also used as a feminine Arabic name. Safa and Marwa are names of the two hills associated with pilgrimage, not female personal names in the Qur’an.
That distinction makes the list below more useful for parents searching for Islamic baby girl names from Quran.
The Most Direct Quranic Girl Name: Maryam
Maryam مريم
Meaning: Mary / the traditional Arabic form of Mary
Origin and usage: Arabic form of the older name Miryam; also used in Persian, Urdu, Indonesian, and several other languages
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: Explicitly mentioned as a female personal name
Maryam is the clearest example of a female personal name directly found in the Qur’an. The Qur’an tells the story of Maryam in detail, and Surah 19 is named Maryam. Quran 19:16 begins with the instruction to mention Maryam in the Book.
The name is therefore not merely “Islamic” because Muslims use it; it has a direct Qur’anic and religious connection. Behind the Name identifies Maryam as the Arabic form of Miryam and specifically lists it as Quranic usage.
Common variants: Mariam, Maryam, Maryem
Pronunciation: roughly MAR yam or MAR yum, depending on regional pronunciation.
Best for: Parents who want the strongest possible connection between a girl’s personal name and the Qur’an.
Quranic Words That Work as Girl Names
The next group requires a little more explanation. These names are Arabic feminine names or commonly used names whose words or roots occur in the Qur’an. They should not automatically be described as “female names mentioned in the Qur’an.”
1. Huda هدى
Meaning: Right guidance
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: Qur’anic concept/word; traditionally used as a feminine Arabic name
Huda comes from the Arabic root h d y, associated with guidance and leading someone toward the right way. The Qur’an repeatedly uses the concept of huda (guidance), including in the description of the Qur’an itself as guidance for people in Quran 2:185.
As a personal name, Huda is feminine in Arabic usage. Behind the Name gives its meaning as “right guidance.”
Variants: Hoda, Hooda, Houda
Best for: Parents who want a short name connected to the Qur’anic concept of guidance.
2. Nur / Noor نور
Meaning: Light
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine and masculine depending on language and region
Quranic connection: Qur’anic word and important Islamic religious concept
Nur is the Arabic word for “light” and is used extensively in Islamic religious language. It is also used as a personal name for both children in different cultures.
Because its gender varies by region, it should not be treated as exclusively feminine everywhere.
The spelling Noor is a common English/Urdu style romanization, while Nur is closer to a simple transliteration of the Arabic word.
Variants: Nur, Noor, Nour
Best for: Families looking for a short, widely recognizable name with a strong religious association.
3. Ayah / Aya آية
Meaning: Sign, sign of God; verse/sign of the Qur’an depending on context
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine as a personal name
Quranic connection: Direct Qur’anic word
Ayah is an Arabic word used in the Qur’an with the meaning “sign” or “sign/evidence.” In the context of the Qur’an, ayah also refers to a Qur’anic verse.
The personal name is commonly written Aya or Ayah in English. These are generally transliteration differences rather than separate names.
Variants: Aya, Ayah, Aayah
Best for: Parents who want a compact Arabic name directly connected to Qur’anic vocabulary.
4. Rahmah / Rahma رحمة
Meaning: Mercy, compassion
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: Qur’anic word and Islamic religious concept
Rahmah comes from the Arabic root associated with mercy and compassion. It is a major Qur’anic concept and appears throughout the Qur’an.
As a girl’s name, Rahma is a feminine Arabic form commonly used in Muslim communities. It should be understood as a name derived from a Qur’anic concept rather than a female character named Rahma in the Qur’an.
Variants: Rahma, Rahmah
Best for: Parents who want the meaning of mercy and compassion.
5. Yusra يسرى / يسرا
Meaning: Ease; prosperity
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: Qur’anic Arabic word/concept
Yusra is associated with the Arabic root y s r, connected with ease and things being easy. The name is feminine in Arabic usage.
The Qur’an repeatedly contrasts ease with hardship, making the underlying concept particularly meaningful in Islamic vocabulary. Behind the Name gives Yusra the meanings “wealth, ease” and connects it to the Arabic root meaning “to be easy, to be rich.”
Variants: Yousra, Yusra
Best for: Parents who like names expressing ease, comfort, or prosperity.
6. Bushra بشرى
Meaning: Good news, glad tidings
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: Qur’anic Arabic word
Bushra comes from the Arabic root associated with bringing good news. The word is used in the Qur’an in contexts involving glad tidings.
As a personal name, Bushra is feminine. Its religious association comes from its Qur’anic meaning rather than from being the name of a female Qur’anic figure.
Best for: Parents who want a name connected with glad tidings and good news.
7. Iman / Eman إيمان
Meaning: Faith, belief
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine in many South Asian and other Muslim naming traditions; usage can vary
Quranic connection: Strong Qur’anic religious concept
Iman means faith or belief and is one of the central concepts of Islamic vocabulary. The word appears throughout the Qur’an.
The spelling Eman is especially common in South Asian English usage, while Iman is closer to the Arabic transliteration.
Because the personal name usage varies between regions, parents should choose the spelling that fits their family’s language and pronunciation.
Variants: Iman, Eman
Best for: Parents who want a name expressing faith.
Quranic Names Connected With Sacred Places and Nature
Some names frequently appear on lists of “Quranic girl names” because the Qur’an mentions the underlying place, object, or natural feature. These are genuine Qur’anic references, but their original Qur’anic function is different from that of a female personal name.
1. Safa صفا
Meaning: Associated with purity/clarity in Arabic naming traditions; also the proper name of a hill
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine as a personal name
Quranic connection: Sacred place associated with Hajj and Umrah
The Qur’an explicitly mentions Safa together with Marwa in Quran 2:158, describing them as among the symbols of Allah.
Safa is therefore strongly connected to Islamic religious practice. However, it is more accurate to say that Safa is a Qur’an mentioned sacred place name used as a girl’s name, rather than calling it the name of a female person in the Qur’an.
Best for: Parents who want a name connected with Hajj and Islamic sacred geography.
2. Marwa مروة
Meaning: Pebbles/flint; also associated with a fragrant plant in Arabic naming references
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine
Quranic connection: One of the two sacred hills mentioned in Quran 2:158
Marwa is paired with Safa in the Qur’an. The two hills are associated with the ritual walking performed during Hajj and Umrah.
The name has therefore both an Arabic linguistic background and a strong Islamic cultural association.
Best for: Parents who want a feminine Arabic name with a direct connection to Islamic pilgrimage.
3. Sidra سدرة
Meaning: Lote tree
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine in contemporary naming usage
Quranic connection: Associated with Sidrat al Muntaha
Sidra comes from sidrah, referring to a lote tree. The Qur’an mentions Sidrat al Muntaha in Surah An Najm.
As a personal name, Sidra is feminine in common modern usage. Its religious significance comes from the Qur’anic reference rather than from being a female person in the Qur’an.
Best for: Parents who want a nature based name with a specific Qur’anic association.
4. Tasnim / Tasneem تسنيم
Meaning: A spring or source associated with the highest quality of Paradise’s drink
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine in personal name usage
Quranic connection: A named source in Paradise
Tasnim is explicitly mentioned in Quran 83:27–28. The verse describes a drink whose mixture comes from Tasnim, and the surrounding passage connects it with the righteous.
The spelling Tasneem is common in English and South Asian usage, while Tasnim is a closer transliteration.
Variants: Tasnim, Tasneem
Best for: Parents seeking a Qur’anic Paradise related name.
5. Salsabil سلسبيلا
Meaning: Name of a spring in Paradise
Origin: Arabic/Qur’anic usage
Gender: Used as a feminine personal name in modern naming
Quranic connection: Explicitly named in Quran 76:18
Quran 76:18 describes a spring in Paradise named Salsabil. The Quranic Arabic Corpus grammatically identifies Salsabil as a proper noun in this verse.
This makes Salsabil a particularly interesting choice: unlike many names loosely called “Quranic,” the word is actually used as the name of a specific entity in the Qur’anic text.
Variants: Salsabil, Salsabeel
Best for: Parents who want an uncommon name with a direct Paradise related Qur’anic reference.
6. Kawthar / Kausar الكوثر
Meaning: Abundant goodness; abundance
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Used as a feminine personal name in Muslim naming traditions
Quranic connection: Name of a Qur’anic surah and a major Qur’anic term
Al Kawthar is the name of Surah 108. The first verse says that Allah granted the Prophet Muhammad al Kawthar. Classical Islamic explanations also connect al Kawthar with a river or fountain granted to the Prophet, while the Qur’anic wording itself conveys abundant goodness.
Because interpretations of the exact referent vary in tafsir, it is safer to give the core meaning as abundance/abundant goodness rather than reducing the name to only “river in Paradise.”
Variants: Kawthar, Kausar, Kauthar
Best for: Parents who want a name with a particularly strong Qur’anic and Islamic association.
7. Jannah جنة
Meaning: Garden; Paradise in Islamic usage
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Feminine in personal name usage
Quranic connection: Qur’anic word used extensively for Paradise/gardens
The Arabic word jannah literally relates to a garden or lush enclosed place, while in Islamic scripture it is frequently used in the context of Paradise.
Jannah is therefore a Qur’anic word with strong religious significance, but it is not the name of a female character in the Qur’an.
Best for: Parents who want a name whose meaning directly evokes Paradise.
A Quick Comparison of the Strongest Choices
| Name | Meaning | Qur’anic Connection | Feminine Name? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryam | Mary; traditional name form | Female figure explicitly named | Yes |
| Huda | Right guidance | Qur’anic concept/word | Yes |
| Nur / Noor | Light | Qur’anic word and religious concept | Yes & unisex by region |
| Ayah / Aya | Sign; Qur’anic verse | Qur’anic word | Yes |
| Rahma / Rahmah | Mercy, compassion | Qur’anic concept/word | Yes |
| Yusra | Ease, prosperity | Qur’anic Arabic concept | Yes |
| Bushra | Good news | Qur’anic word | Yes |
| Iman / Eman | Faith | Major Qur’anic concept | Yes, usage varies |
| Safa | Sacred hill name | Qur’an 2:158 | Yes as modern name |
| Marwa | Sacred hill name | Qur’an 2:158 | Yes |
| Sidra | Lote tree | Sidrat al Muntaha | Yes |
| Tasnim / Tasneem | Named spring in Paradise | Qur’an 83:27 | Yes |
| Salsabil | Named spring in Paradise | Qur’an 76:18 | Used as girl’s name |
| Kawthar / Kausar | Abundant goodness | Surah 108; Qur’an 108:1 | Yes |
| Jannah | Garden; Paradise | Repeated Qur’anic term | Yes |
If You Want the Most Strictly “From the Quran” Choice
There is an important point that many online name lists blur.
If by “from the Qur’an” you mean an actual female personal name appearing in the Qur’anic text, Maryam is the clearest answer.
If you mean a girl’s name based on a Qur’anic word, place, object, or religious concept, the list becomes much broader. Huda, Nur, Ayah, Rahma, Yusra, Safa, Marwa, Sidra, Tasnim, Salsabil, Kawthar, and Jannah can all fit that broader category, but their connections are not identical.
That distinction is useful when comparing names rather than simply copying a long list from a generic “100 Quranic names” page.
How to Choose Between Them
Start with the kind of connection you want:
- Direct female Qur’anic figure: Maryam
- Guidance and faith: Huda, Iman
- Light: Nur / Noor
- Mercy: Rahma
- Ease and prosperity: Yusra
- Good news: Bushra
- Qur’anic vocabulary: Ayah
- Hajj and sacred geography: Safa, Marwa
- Qur’anic nature imagery: Sidra
- Paradise related names: Tasnim, Salsabil, Jannah
- Abundance and strong Qur’anic association: Kawthar
Also decide which Roman spelling will be easiest for your family. Maryam/Mariam, Nur/Noor, Ayah/Aya, Rahma/Rahmah, Tasnim/Tasneem, and Kawthar/Kausar are examples where different spellings can represent the same underlying Arabic name or word.
FAQs
Is Maryam the only female name mentioned directly in the Quran?
Maryam is the clearest and most prominent female personal name explicitly used in the Qur’an. The Qur’an devotes substantial narrative attention to her, including in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19.
Are all “Quranic girl names” actually names of girls in the Quran?
No. Many popular lists use “Quranic” broadly. Some entries are Qur’anic words, places, natural objects, or religious concepts that later became personal names. Safa and Marwa, for example, are sacred hills mentioned in the Qur’an, not female characters.
Is Noor a Quranic girl name?
Noor (Nur) is a Qur’anic Arabic word meaning “light” and is used as a personal name. It can be feminine or masculine depending on the culture and region, so it is better described as a Qur’anic word used as a name rather than exclusively as a Qur’anic girl’s name.
Is Salsabil mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Quran 76:18 names Salsabil as a spring in Paradise. The Quranic Arabic Corpus identifies Salsabil as a proper noun in that verse.
Are Safa and Marwa good Islamic names for girls?
Yes, both are established feminine personal names and have a strong Islamic association because the Qur’an mentions the two hills as among the symbols of Allah in Quran 2:158. Their original Qur’anic reference, however, is to sacred places rather than female people.
Should I choose a name only because its meaning appears in the Quran?
Not necessarily. A good naming decision can consider the Arabic meaning, pronunciation, family language, regional usage, religious significance, and if the name is genuinely feminine in the culture where it will be used.
Final Thoughts
Choosing Islamic baby girl names from Quran is easier when parents understand the exact connection each name has with the Qur’an. Maryam has the clearest connection because she is explicitly mentioned as a female personal name in the Qur’an.
Names such as Huda, Nur, Rahma, Yusra, Bushra, and Iman are rooted in Qur’anic vocabulary and important Islamic concepts, while Safa, Marwa, Sidra, Tasnim, Salsabil, Kawthar, and Jannah have specific connections to sacred places, nature, Paradise, or Qur’anic religious language.
Rather than choosing a name simply because it appears on a website labeled “Quranic,” parents can look at its exact meaning, Arabic origin, Qur’anic reference, gender usage, pronunciation, and cultural context. Understanding these differences makes it easier to choose a girl’s name that has a genuine connection to the Qur’an and Islamic tradition while also fitting the family’s preferences and naming customs.
Brian Cox is a names editor and naming researcher at NameBrande.com who believes choosing a name starts with understanding its meaning, sound, and character. He focuses on boy names, naming styles, origins, and practical name ideas, turning research into clear, useful guides.
Areas of Focus: Boy Names | Name Meanings | Name Origins | Naming Styles | Name Ideas | Naming Research
