Nature Names
Mehtab
MEH-tab (meh-TAHB) /meːhˈtaːb/
Pronunciation: MEH-tab (meh-TAHB) /meːhˈtaːb/
مهتاب — ضوء القمر (قوليًا)
Unisex Rare
Origin
Persian-Urdu
Meaning
Moonlight; literally 'moon-shine' from Persian mah (moon) + tab (light, radiance).
Thematic Cluster
Names Meaning Moon
Islamic Status
Rare
Verification
Needs Review
Quality Score
Not scored
Religious Confidence
Not scored
Letters
6
Meaning Urdu
مہتاب — چاندنی، چاند کی روشنی
Meaning Arabic
مهتاب — ضوء القمر (قوليًا)
Mehtab (مہتاب / مهتاب) comes from Persian roots: mah 'moon' + tab 'shine/light', literally 'moonlight'. It is attested in Persian and Urdu literary usage as a poetic noun and has been adopted as a given name in South Asian Muslim communities. The name is unisex in practice, favored for its gentle, nature-based imagery rather than any doctrinal significance. Linguistically, Mah- + -tab is a transparent Persian compound (cf. Mahtab, Mehtāb). For related names see [[Mahin]] and [[Meher]], which share the same lunar or luminous semantic field. There is no direct Quranic occurrence; its use is cultural and literary rather than scriptural.
FAQs
Is Mehtab an Arabic name?
Mehtab is Persian in origin and widely used in Urdu; it is not originally Arabic, though written in Arabic script in Persian and Urdu contexts.
Is Mehtab appropriate for Muslim children?
Yes. Mehtab is a culturally used, non-religious name referencing moonlight; there is no Islamic prohibition on such a name.
Is Mehtab male or female?
Mehtab is used as a unisex name in South Asia, though usage can vary by family and region.
What is the linguistic composition of Mehtab?
It is a Persian compound: mah (ماه/mah) meaning 'moon' and tab (تاب/tab) meaning 'light' or 'shine'.
Are there poetic or literary references for Mehtab?
Yes. The term appears in Persian and Urdu poetry and prose to denote moonlight; its usage as a personal name draws on that poetic tradition.
Names With Similar Meaning
Milad
From Persian/Arabic 'Milād' (ميلاد) meaning 'birth' or 'nativity'; used as a given name across Persian, Kurdish, and wider Muslim cultures to denote 'birth' or 'new life.'
Mete
Historic Turkic name associated with a leader; in Turkish usage conveys bravery and leadership (derived from Central Asian Modu/Modu Chanyu)
Moin
Helper, supporter, one who gives aid; from Arabic مُعِين (muʿīn), literally 'assistant' or 'helper'. Historically used in Arabic, Persian, Urdu and other Muslim naming traditions.
Maki
In Japanese, it means 'True Hope' (真希). In Arabic, 'Makki' (مكي) refers to someone from the holy city of Makkah.
Musa
Saved from the water; the name of a major Prophet
Mina
In Japanese, it means 'Beautiful' (美奈). In the Islamic context, it is derived from 'Minna' (منة), meaning 'Gift,' 'Favor,' or 'Grace' from Allah.