'Qur'an' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-Qur'ān', where 'qara'a' meant 'to recite'.

'Qur'an' passed into Medieval Latin and Old French as 'Coran' (or similar forms) and entered English usage through these transliterations, yielding modern forms such as 'Quran' and 'Koran'.

Initially, it meant 'that which is recited', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the Islamic holy book'.