Girl name
Esra name meaning
“night journey; travel by night”
Esra means night journey or travel by night. It comes from the Arabic noun isrāʾ and is used as a feminine given name in Türkiye. The source word names the act of travelling at night. A road beneath the stars provides a direct image for its meaning.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Esra mean?
Night journey; travel by night
In Turkish: gece yolculuğu, geceleyin yürüyüş
Esra is a Turkish personal-name form of Arabic isrāʾ, night journey. Its Islamic association is Muhammad's nocturnal journey. The Quranic chapter al-Isra bears the same word as its title, although the relevant verse uses a related verb rather than this exact verbal noun.
The ending “-ra” is a shared final sound rather than a meaningful suffix in Zehra, Azra and Esra. Their meanings come from the whole name, not the final two letters. More girl names ending in -ra →
How popular is Esra?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 42provinces
- Girls named Esra in Türkiye (2025)
- 248,211
Where is Esra in the top 30?
42 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Esra popular?
Esra offers a short, straightforward pronunciation and the evocative meaning “night journey.” These qualities give it a simple, poetic appeal, though it remained outside the supplied top thirty.
Origin of the name Esra
Esra comes from Arabic isrāʾ, a verbal noun referring to travel by night or causing someone to make a night journey.
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Esra
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Esra Reyyan
Meaning of each name
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
- Reyyan: quenched with water; fresh and lush
-
Sudenur Esra
Meaning of each name
- Sudenur: adorned with kohl; light, radiance
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
-
Esra Belkıs
Meaning of each name
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
- Belkıs: the traditional name of the Queen of Sheba
-
Havva Esra
Meaning of each name
- Havva: life; living
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
-
Esra Çelebi
Meaning of each name
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
- Çelebi: cultivated, courteous and refined person
-
Fadimana Esra
Meaning of each name
- Fadimana: a fused form of Fatma Ana
- Esra: night journey; travel by night
How to pronounce Esra
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /esɾa/ |
| Arabic | إسراء |
Is Esra a girl’s name?
Yes, Esra is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Esra appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Esra
Names with related meanings
- Eylül♀September
- Esila♀Late afternoon
- Leyla♀A name associated with night and darkness
- Songül♀The last rose
- Bahar♀Spring, the season of renewal
- Ömür♀Lifespan
- Şevval♀The tenth month of the Hijri year
- Nisan♀April
- Seher♀The early morning before daybreak
- Havin♀Summer, the summer season
- Duha♂♀Forenoon
- Ezel♂♀Beginningless past
Famous people named Esra
- Esra Bilgiç · b. 1992
- Esra Yıldız · b. 1997
- Esra Dermancıoğlu · b. 1968
- Esra Gümüş · b. 1982
- Esra Özatay · b. 1976
- Esra Erol · b. 1982
- Esra Erdoğan · b. 1983
- Esra Erol · b. 1985
- Esra Şencebe · b. 1981
- Esra Ural · b. 1991
- Esra Kızıldoğan · b. 1979
- Esra Ronabar · b. 1978
FAQ about the name Esra
What is the meaning of Esra?
Esra means “night journey; travel by night”. Esra comes from Arabic isrāʾ, a verbal noun referring to travel by night or causing someone to make a night journey.
Is Esra a girl’s name?
Yes, Esra is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Esra in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Esra nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Esra?
Esra is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Esra have?
Esra has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Esra?
Esra appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Esra?
Some ideas: Esra Reyyan; Sudenur Esra; Esra Belkıs.
Famous people named Esra?
Notable people named Esra include Esra Bilgiç, Esra Yıldız, Esra Dermancıoğlu.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00027 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake