Nuray

♀ Girl

Pronounced noo-RY /nuːˈraɪ/Medium

Meaning: From the Turkish nur ('light', from Arabic) and ay ('moon') — 'bright moon; moonlight'. A well-established Turkish girls' name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Moonlight, in two beats: Nuray is Turkish for 'bright moon' (said 'noo-RY').

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumTurkish

MeaningFrom the Turkish nur ('light', from Arabic) and ay ('moon') — 'bright moon; moonlight'. A well-established Turkish girls' name.

U.S. rank (2024)#13062 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 17

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

Nuray joins two Turkish elements: nur, 'light' (borrowed from Arabic), and ay, 'moon'. The result is 'bright moon' or 'moonlight', and it sits in a long Turkish tradition of naming daughters for the moon. A clear, luminous classic in Turkey (said 'noo-RY').

It appears only very rarely for girls in the U.S. Very rare, luminous, and Turkish-rooted.

Did you know? Turkish loves moon-names — Ay is 'moon', and it turns up in Ayla, Aysel, and Nuray. Add nur, 'light', and you get moonlight itself (said 'noo-RY').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Nuray — Turkish nur 'light' + ay 'moon'; 'bright moon'

Variations

NuraiNooray

Nicknames

NurRay

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nuray…

Ayla— another Turkish moon name

Noor— the 'light' element it shares

Leyla— a like Turkish favourite

Selin— another modern Turkish pick

Explore names like Nuray

By themeheritage turkish light moon

By meaningLight Moon

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nuray mean?

Nuray is Turkish for 'bright moon' or 'moonlight', from nur ('light') and ay ('moon').

How do you pronounce Nuray?

It's said noo-RY /nuːˈraɪ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Nuray a boy or girl name?

Nuray is a girl's name.

How popular is Nuray?

Nuray is a very rare name for girls in the U.S., though well known in Turkey.