Sohail
Meaningthe star Canopus · Arabic
Sohail is an Arabic boy name meaning “the star Canopus”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Word funSohail doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- GenerationSohail peaked in 1988, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Sohail you'd meet today is about 37 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Sohails too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Sohail would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 121,951 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistorySohail first shows up in US birth records in 1975, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 50 years since.
US births per million boys, 1975–2025
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Sohail
Sohail is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “the star Canopus”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 1980s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Sohail
What does the name Sohail mean?
Sohail means “the star Canopus” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “star” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Dhruv (“steadfast, pole star”), Tariq (“morning star”), Star (“star”) and Astro (“star”).
What is the origin of the name Sohail?
Sohail is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Sohail a boy or girl name?
Sohail is a boy name. In 2025, 14 US boys were named Sohail.
How popular is the name Sohail?
Sohail ranked #6,143 for US boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 1988, when it reached #3,915. Over the last five years it has climbed 891 places.
What names are similar to Sohail?
If you like Sohail, you might also like Dhruv, Tariq, Star and Astro.
What should I know before naming my baby Sohail?
Sohail is an Arabic boy name meaning “the star Canopus”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.