Nahla

Nahla is an Arabic name meaning a drink of water. Its image is specific and everyday: the act of taking water, rather than a broad translation such as ocean, river, or goddess. Refreshment and relief may be personal associations with that meaning, but they are interpretations of the image rather than additional dictionary definitions.

The name became more familiar to some English-speaking audiences when actress Halle Berry chose it for her daughter. Its Arabic use, however, does not depend on that celebrity connection. The h also distinguishes Nahla from the similarly written Nala, which can belong to different naming histories. For a family choosing an Arabic water-related name, Nahla provides a clear linguistic explanation in a compact form.