Mehtab
Mehtab is a Persian-origin Urdu name meaning 'moonlight' (mah + tab). Used across South Asian Muslim communities and in Persianate literary contexts, it functions as a poetic, unisex name evoking lunar radiance and night-time beauty.
Islamic Details
Islamic Status: Rare
Variations / Spellings: Mahtāb, Mehtab, Mehtāb
Numerology and Trending
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Mehtab an Arabic name?
A: 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.
Q: Is Mehtab appropriate for Muslim children?
A: Yes. Mehtab is a culturally used, non-religious name referencing moonlight; there is no Islamic prohibition on such a name.
Q: Is Mehtab male or female?
A: Mehtab is used as a unisex name in South Asia, though usage can vary by family and region.
Q: What is the linguistic composition of Mehtab?
A: It is a Persian compound: mah (ماه/mah) meaning 'moon' and tab (تاب/tab) meaning 'light' or 'shine'.
Q: Are there poetic or literary references for Mehtab?
A: 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.
Similar Names
Spiritual and Linguistic Analysis
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.