Jannūr is a feminine given name used primarily in Kazakhstan. It is a Kazakh compound name formed from the elements жан (jan) meaning "soul" and нұр (nūr) meaning "light". The element jan derives from Persian jān ("soul, life"), while nūr comes from Arabic nūr ("light"). Together, Jannūr carries the poetic meaning of "light of the soul" or "soulful light".
The name reflects a common pattern in Kazakh onomastics where elements from Turkic, Persian, and Arabic roots are combined, often with spiritual or aspirational qualities. Kazakh names frequently incorporate nūr (e.g., Zhannur, a variant of Jannūr) alongside other elements, emphasizing brightness, radiance, or divine illumination. The name Jannūr is most common among Kazakh speakers, though it may also appear in other Turkic-speaking regions influenced by Kazakh culture.
Several notable bearers are not widely documented, but figures such as Zhannur Abykbayeva (Kazakh wushu athlete) and Zhannur Sagidolla (mayor of a Kazakh district) show the variant form's presence. The name remains in use in modern Kazakhstan, reflecting the cultural exchange between Persian, Arabic, and Turkic worlds.
- Meaning: Light of the soul (derived from Persian jan "soul" and Arabic nūr "light")
- Origin: Kazakh compound name; Persian and Arabic roots
- Type: First name, feminine
- Usage regions: Kazakhstan (primarily), Central Asia
- Variant: Zhannur