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Anwar

♂ Boy

Pronounced AN-war /ˈʔan.war/Medium

Meaning: Brighter, more luminousMedium

In 30 seconds: Anwar is an Arabic boy's name meaning 'brighter, more luminous.'

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Origin MediumArabic, Urdu, Indonesian

MeaningBrighter, more luminous

U.S. rank (2025)#3129 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births38 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1978

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,761

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Anwar comes from Arabic, meaning 'brighter' or 'more luminous.' The name spread well beyond Arabic-speaking regions, taking forms such as the Turkish Enver and the Central Asian Anvar.

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (1918-1981) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978, and actor Anwar Wagdi (1904-1955) also bore the name. The light-and-radiance meaning gives it a luminous, positive sense.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Anwar is 'brighter, more luminous', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Anwar — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

ÄnwärEnverƏnvərNehoraiAnvar

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Anwar Sadat (1918–1981)
Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.
★Anwar Wagdi (1904–1955)
Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Anwar…

Munir— Another Arabic name built on the idea of light and radiance, like Anwar.

Amar— another Arabic name

Ammar— echoes that soft -ar sound

Umar— shares Anwar's Arabic roots

Samar— another Arabic name

Explore names like Anwar

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Anwar mean?

Anwar is usually explained as meaning 'brighter, more luminous' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Anwar?

It's commonly said AN-war /ˈʔan.war/.

Is Anwar a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Anwar is used as a boy name.

How popular is Anwar?

In 2024, Anwar ranked #2870 in the U.S. for boys, with 44 births recorded.