Anwar

Anwar - A very unique male name

Anwar appeared on the charts for the first time in 1972 on position #1776. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Anwar and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Anwar? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Anwar. The baby boy name Anwar was given to 11 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3004 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 133,299 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Anwar peaked in popularity 48 years ago in 1978 on position 670.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Anwar, 1-5?

Anwar is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Anwar is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #723 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,497.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Anwar is where you live.

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Anwar origin and meaning

Arabic

From Arabic anwar, 'more luminous, brighter', the comparative form of nur, 'light'

Anwar is a well-established Arabic name that entered the American data in 1972 and peaked in 1982 — the period just after Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's peace diplomacy made the name globally familiar. It has since settled at low, steady levels.

Attested etymology

Anwar is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Anwar, pop culture references for the name Anwar and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Anwar

We've found the following names that sound similar to Anwar, sorted by popularity.

Amir / Amari / Amare / Ameer / Amar / Ahmir / Amiri / Ammar / Aamir / Amauri /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Anwar

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Anwar a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Anwar?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AHN-war · /ˈɑnwɑr/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Anwer — A rarer transliteration variant

Famous bearers

• Anwar Sadat — President of Egypt who made peace with Israel and was assassinated in office (1918–1981) Historical

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Anwar carries a bright, literal meaning and deep roots in the Arabic-speaking world. For many families the Sadat association adds statesmanlike weight.

Worth knowing

• Transliteration and pronunciation will need explaining outside Arabic-speaking communities.