Ghaznawi is a toponymic surname (nisba) meaning from Ghazni (formerly Ghazna), a city in central Afghanistan. Notable people with the surname include:
Abdul Halim Ghaznavi (1876-1953), politician in British India Abdul Karim Ghaznavi (1872–1939), politician in British India Abdullah Ghaznavi (1811–1881), Afghan-Indian Islamic scholar Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Ghaznavi (1902-1975), Pakistani Sufi Hassan Ghaznavi, 12th-century Persian poet Ismail of Ghazni, emir of Ghazni Jamal al-Din al-Ghaznawi, Sunni Muslim scholar Kaif Ghaznavi, Pakistani actress Khatir Ghaznavi (1925–2008), Pakistani writer Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030), founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty Mawdud of Ghazni (died 1050), Ghaznavid dynasty ruler Muhammad of Ghazni (died 1041), Ghaznavid dynasty ruler Rafiq Ghaznavi (1907–1974), musician in Indian films Shatir Ghaznavi (1905–1971), writer for Indian films