Names of Quran mentioned in the Quran, with meanings
The Quran calls itself by many names, each showing a different side of what it is: a recitation, a book, a reminder, a light and a healing. Here are the best-known names of the Quran, what they mean and where the Quran uses them.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
The names and their meanings
The two most common names reflect the two ways the Quran has always been preserved: Al-Quran, "the recitation", because it is recited from memory, and Al-Kitab, "the book", because it is written down. Others describe its purpose, such as الفرقان (Al-Furqan), the Criterion that separates truth from falsehood, and الذكر (Adh-Dhikr), the Reminder.
Where each name appears
| Name | Arabic | Meaning | Example verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Quran | القرآن | The Recitation | Al-Baqarah 2:185 |
| Al-Kitab | الكتاب | The Book | Al-Baqarah 2:2 |
| Al-Furqan | الفرقان | The Criterion (between right and wrong) | Al-Furqan 25:1 |
| Adh-Dhikr | الذكر | The Reminder | Al-Hijr 15:9 |
| At-Tanzil | التنزيل | The Revelation (sent down) | Ash-Shu‘ara 26:192 |
| Al-Huda | الهدى | The Guidance | Al-Baqarah 2:2 |
| An-Nur | النور | The Light | An-Nisa 4:174 |
| Al-Burhan | البرهان | The Clear Proof | An-Nisa 4:174 |
| Ash-Shifa | الشفاء | The Healing | Al-Isra 17:82 |
| Al-Maw‘izah | الموعظة | The Admonition | Yunus 10:57 |
| Ar-Ruh | الروح | The Spirit (giving life) | Ash-Shura 42:52 |
| Al-Mubin | المبين | The Clear | Yusuf 12:1 |
| Al-Majid | المجيد | The Glorious | Qaf 50:1 |
| Al-Karim | الكريم | The Noble | Al-Waqi‘ah 56:77 |
| Al-Hakim | الحكيم | The Wise | Ya Sin 36:2 |
| Al-‘Aziz | العزيز | The Mighty | Fussilat 41:41 |
Some of these, such as Al-Majid, Al-Karim and Al-Hakim, are used as descriptions in phrases like "the glorious Quran" and "the wise Quran", which is why lists of names vary in length.
To learn what the Quran is and how it was revealed, read what is the Quran and when the Quran was written. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our Quran glossary.
Frequently asked questions
How many names does the Quran have?
Scholars have listed anywhere from a handful to more than fifty, depending on whether they count descriptions as names. The names on this page are the ones most often cited, each used by the Quran for itself.
What is the most common name of the Quran?
Al-Quran, meaning "the Recitation", followed by Al-Kitab, "the Book". Both appear many times in the Quran.
Is "mushaf" a name of the Quran?
Not in the Quran itself. Mushaf means a written copy of the Quran, a bound book of its pages, and came into use after the Quran was compiled.
Are "Umm al-Kitab" and "As-Sab‘ al-Mathani" names of the Quran?
They are mainly names of Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening surah, rather than of the whole Quran. See our guide to Surah Al-Fatihah.
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