Zohra

Origin & Etymology

Zohra derives from the Arabic word zuhra (زهرة), meaning flower, blossom, or brilliance. The word also refers to the planet Venus — Al-Zuhra is the Arabic name for Venus, the brightest planet in the night sky. In classical Arabic poetry and literature, zuhra evokes beauty, luminosity, and the ephemeral perfection of a flower in bloom. The name is beloved across the Arab world, North Africa, and among Muslim communities in South Asia.

Popularity Story

Zohra has been a traditional name in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and other North African countries for centuries. It is also common in Iran (as Zohreh), Turkey, and South Asian Muslim communities. The name carries a timeless elegance that has kept it in consistent use across generations without feeling dated.

Cultural Significance

In Islamic tradition, Venus (Al-Zuhra) holds a place of beauty in the cosmos, and the name Zohra connects a child to both natural beauty and celestial brilliance. In North African Berber and Arab cultures, naming daughters after flowers and stars is a tradition expressing hopes for a beautiful, radiant life. The name also appears in the Quran-adjacent tradition as a daughter of the Prophet Shuayb.

Fun Facts

• Al-Zuhra is the Arabic name for Venus, the third-brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon
• Zohra Drif, an Algerian lawyer and senator, was a prominent figure in the Algerian War of Independence
• The related name Zahra (variant spelling) means the same thing and is one of the names of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad in Islamic tradition

Zohra in Other Languages