Munawar

Munawar is a given name of Arabic origin meaning bright or luminous. It is used as a masculine name in many Muslim communities and has spread through South Asia, the Middle East, and their diasporas. It is also sometimes used as a surname.

The name is derived from the Arabic root related to light, with the common transliteration Munawar. Variants include Munawwar and Munavvar, and transliterations differ in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Turkish, and Indonesian contexts. The term often carries connotations of illumination, guidance, and brilliance.

In public life, individuals named Munawar have appeared across fields such as politics, literature, entertainment, and sports, particularly in South Asia. Due to regional popularity, the name is common in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, and among Muslim communities abroad. The name is typically used for males, though naming practices vary by region.