Najla
Najla is a Muslim girl name meaning “Woman with large, beautiful eyes”.
| Meaning | Woman with large, beautiful eyes |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Arabic |
| Arabic spelling | نجلاء |
| Pronunciation | naj-LAA |
| Arabic root | ن ج ل (n-j-l) — to be wide |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Najla
Najla comes from the root n-j-l, which refers to wideness, and in particular to wide, large eyes. Najlāʾ follows the Arabic pattern used for physical features, so it describes a woman whose eyes are wide and beautiful, while the masculine ʾanjal described a man with large eyes. In classical poetry this was one of the standard ideals of beauty. Translations such as 'wide-eyed', 'with beautiful eyes' and 'with large dark eyes' are all fair; the root itself does not specify colour, only size and beauty.
Najla has been a popular girl's name across the Arab world for decades, from Tunisia and Morocco to Egypt, the Levant and Saudi Arabia. It is written نجلاء in Arabic and pronounced NAJ-la, with the final hamza usually silent, which is why it is often spelled Najla rather than Najlaa'. Najlaa is also common, and Nejla is the Turkish form. Well-known bearers include Najla Bouden, who became Tunisia's first woman prime minister in 2021, and Najla El Mangoush, a former foreign minister of Libya.
Famous people named Najla
- Najla Bouden — Tunisian geologist and the country's first woman prime minister
- Najla El Mangoush — former foreign minister of Libya
Is Najla a Muslim name?
Yes. Najla is a Muslim name of Arabic origin meaning a woman with beautiful wide eyes.
Where is the name Najla used?
Common across the Arab world; Nejla is the Turkish form.
Gifts with the name Najla
- Najla name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Najla baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Najla
More girl names like Najla
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Najla mean?
Najla means 'Woman with large, beautiful eyes'. It comes from Arabic.
Is Najla a Muslim name?
Yes. Najla is a Muslim name of Arabic origin meaning a woman with beautiful wide eyes.
How do you write Najla in Arabic?
Najla is written نجلاء in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Najla?
Najla is pronounced naj-LAA.
What is the male version of Najla?
The masculine adjective is Anjal, a man with large eyes, but it is rarely used as a name today.
Is Najla in the Quran?
No. Najla does not appear in the Quran, but it is a classic Arabic name used by Muslim families.