Nasser
Active participle of naṣara, 'to help, to give victory' — the one who aids.
- Root
- n-ṣ-r (ن-ص-ر)
- Gender
- Male
- Meaning
- Helper, one who grants victory
- Origin
- Arabic
Meaning and root
From n-ṣ-r (ن-ص-ر), 'to help, to grant victory'. *Nāṣir* is the active participle: the one who helps.
The pair
Arabic distinguishes the doer from the one it is done to. *Nāṣir* is the helper; Manṣūr is the one helped — granted victory. The two names come from a single root and are often found in the same family.
Usage
Widespread across the Arab world.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Nasser and Mansour?
Both come from the root n-ṣ-r. Nāṣir is the one who helps or gives victory; Manṣūr is the one who is helped — granted victory.
Sources
- ابن منظور، لسان العرب، 711هـ — مادة: نصر
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27