Anwar (or Anwer, Anwaar, Anouar, Anvar, Enver, Enwer) is the English transliteration of two Arabic names commonly used in the Arab world by both Arab Christians and Muslims: the male given name ʼAnwar (أنور), meaning "luminous" or the female given name ʼAnwār (أنوار), meaning "a collection of lights". In Arabic, Anwar is also a comparative adjective with the meaning of "more enlightened".[1]
Both variations may also be encountered as surnames, sometimes also with the accompanying "al" (the definite article "the") as in Al Anwar.
In Francophone countries, both names are usually transliterated as Anoir, Anouar and Al Anouar with the definite article "al". The name is transliterated in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Turkey as Enver.
Notable people with the name Anwar and variants include: