Which spelling works best for this name?

It doesn’t rhyme with zoo. I can’t quite describe it though 😂 It’s like Queen Noor, as a PP suggested, but with an “a” at the end.

@RightThenFred ,Norah is thought to be from the Hebrew for light.
Nuur is the Arabic word for light.

Nora could be short for Honora, Eleanora etc.

Yeah, I'm surprised at the negativity on this thread. I'm not. MNers can be islamophobic.

I actually hadn't heard of Noora, only Noor, Same here.

@RightThenFred @mayse10 Im glad you picked up on the negativity, it makes me think I’m not going mad.

I often comment (under various names) on threads about Muslim names, and they definitely have a different tone to threads about English or European names. It makes me really sad.

I don't think Norah is related to Noora. Nora(h) is Irish, from Honora (Latin) - no link to Arabic.

Yeah, I'm surprised at the negativity on this thread. I actually hadn't heard of Noora, only Noor, but I encounter new names all the time at my kids' school. Kids just accept other kids' names as completely normal. It's not even as if there's anything especially tease-worthy about Noora, it doesn't rhyme with a rude word or anything like that.

I am really struggling with all of these negative comments in here, frankly I think it’s disgusting. It’s a beautiful name and it was a simple question. I think Noura looks lovely and I really hope none of these comments put this wonderful mummy off her little one’s name.

Which of these spellings would cause the least issues with pronunciation so she doesn't get confused with nor-rah?

Technically, Norah, Nura, Noora, Noura are all the same name. Norah is just the anglicised form.

I’m very surprised that so few PPs have heard of such a common (in the UK) Arabic name 🤷‍♀️

I think however you spell it, it will get often get pronounced the same way Norah in the UK by non Arabic speakers even if people know it should be pronounced differently because the beautiful soft long vowel sound doesn’t come naturally to English speakers or it will get mangled into something half way between.

@BobbyBiscuits , Noora. Noo rhyming with Zoo, -ra like in Cora

Why would anyone laugh at all? It's well known, there are several variants of an Arabic/ Urdu name. I don't know all the increments of pronunciation but it's certainly very traditional and nothing that will be laughed at.

Middle name Corona? Very pretty.

So not just Nora? You want it pronounced 'new-ra'?
I guess Naura, to sound like Laura?

@MoreChocPls , it's quite a normal Arabic/Urdu name.
The kids won't be as ignorant as you think.

Sorry, but it’s awful and you’re gonna give your kid a bad start in school life as all the kids will either call her by the wrong name or take the mickey.

I think it is a nice name but all of those spellings could well prove problematic. You and your child (as they grow up) are likely to have to explain them regularly.

Whatever you do, people will call her Norah - just be prepared for that.

Noora/Noorah is probably less likely to be pronounced wrongly.

Noura looks like it could be Now-rah
Nura looks like it could be New-rah

I don't think there's a perfect solution, so I'd say just choose your favourite. A lot of people pronounce "oor" words the same as "or", e.g. "moor" and "more" sound the same for a lot of people. So, the difference between Noora and Nora isn't going to be that clear-cut regardless. Personally, I prefer Noora, because it's like Queen Noor and I'm familiar with that name.

Noora.

That's a completely different name.

This post is proof that people don't read! You are not asking about the name NORA

I would go Noora.

It’s Nora. No playing around with it.

All are open to being pronounced NOT as you intend.

Do you like Noor - As in Queen Noor of Jordan?
If you choose a name that is already known or is the same as a well known person, it is likely to be said the correct way.

The one I know (in her 40s, American, Indian heritage) is Nura and the pronunciation seemed obvious to me. I think the others might be mistaken for Nora if you weren’t looking carefully.

I'd pronounce Noura on first attempt as Nora as I'd expect the Nour to rhyme with pour.

I'd be unsure how to pronounce Nura but I wouldn't assume it had an oo sound it it. I'd most likely guess the first syllable rhymed with pure.

So I voted Noora, which I did pronounce first time as Noo-ra. But even then the Noor could rhyme with poor. Does the name Noor rhyme with poor? I've never heard it spoken.

Whichever you pick, you'd only have to tell people once the correct pronunciation. Most people will learn the name by hearing it rather than seeing it.

Of those I think Noura. Noora is most likely to get mixed up with Nora and Nura I would pronounce with a shorter u.

I actually prefer Noor with no a though!

In a similar vein, I think Noor is a very sweet name.