What does the name 'Taj Mahal' mean in English?

The name “Taj Mahal” means “Crown of the Palace” in English.

The expression comes from Urdu and is generally understood to combine the Persian- and Arabic-derived words tāj, meaning “crown,” and mahall, meaning “palace.” The name therefore presents the mausoleum as a royal or exalted palace-like monument rather than simply identifying its location.

The building was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in 1631. Its more formal name in early Mughal records was rauza-i munawwara, meaning “the illumined” or “illustrious tomb.” That older title highlights the building’s funerary purpose.

A common mix-up is assuming that “Taj Mahal” directly means “Mumtaz’s palace.” The familiar name may also have been influenced by Mumtaz’s name, but the standard translation is based on the word pair “crown” and “palace.” The monument was built in Agra between the 1630s and mid-1650s as a mausoleum complex.