Fun Facts About the Name Ishraq
- 30 babies named Ishraq: U.S. records list 30 babies given the name Ishraq from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ishraq Mean?
Ishraq is an Arabic name, written ishrāq (إشراق), meaning "illumination," "radiance," or "shining light." It is a noun formed from the root sh-r-q, which carries the idea of sunrise and the east - the same root behind sharq ("east") and the verb ashraqa ("to shine, to rise," said especially of the sun). Literally, it refers to light breaking forth, above all the light of dawn, and the usual English rendering "illumination" keeps that sense. The more figurative reading of inner or spiritual enlightenment is a later extension of the word rather than its original meaning.
Ishraq Name History & Origins
Ishrāq was an ordinary Arabic word for the shining of light well before it was used as a personal name. In Islamic devotional practice, ṣalāt al-ishrāq is a prayer performed shortly after sunrise, named for that time of day. In the twelfth century, the philosopher Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi (d. 1191) called his system ḥikmat al-ishrāq, "the wisdom of illumination," and his followers became known as ishrāqī, or Illuminationists. These religious and philosophical uses belong to the word rather than to the name itself, but they supply the associations the name carries.
As a given name, Ishraq appears in Arabic-speaking countries and among Muslim families in other regions, including South Asia. It is used for both women and men, and in current practice it is often given to girls. The Turkish form is İşrak, and Latin-script spellings include Ishraq, Ishrak, and Eshraq.
How Popular is the Name Ishraq?
Ishraq has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #11,054 in 2000.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #13,091 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #13,053 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,118 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #11,560 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,240 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #11,054 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ishraq Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Ishraq's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ishraq's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.