Sher
Sher is a Muslim boy name meaning “Lion”.
| Meaning | Lion |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Persian |
| Arabic spelling | شیر |
| Pronunciation | SHEER |
| Muslim name? | Used by Muslims |
Meaning and origin of Sher
Sher is the Persian word for lion, pronounced shēr in classical and South Asian Persian. The lion has long stood for courage, strength and noble leadership in Persian and Indo-Persian culture, and calling a boy Sher expresses the hope that he will be brave and protective. In modern Iranian Persian the word is pronounced shir and sounds identical to the word for milk, but speakers in South and Central Asia keep the older long e sound for the lion, which keeps the two words apart.
Sher is often combined with other names, especially in South and Central Asia: Sher Ali, Sher Muhammad, Sher Khan, Sher Afzal and the Uzbek Sherzod are all familiar. The best-known historical bearer is Sher Shah Suri, the Pashtun ruler who displaced the Mughal emperor Humayun in the 1540s and reorganised the administration and roads of northern India. Another is Sher Ali Khan, Emir of Afghanistan in the 1860s and 1870s. The name is written شیر in Persian, Urdu and Dari, and Shir is a common alternative spelling in Afghanistan and Iran.
Famous people named Sher
- Sher Shah Suri — sixteenth-century ruler who founded the Sur Empire in northern India
- Sher Ali Khan — Emir of Afghanistan (1863–1879)
Is Sher a Muslim name?
Yes. Sher is a Persian name meaning lion, long used by Muslim families in South and Central Asia.
Where is the name Sher used?
Common in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia, often as part of a compound name.
Gifts with the name Sher
- Sher name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Sher baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Sher
Read more
- Afghan & Pashto Muslim names guide
- Central Asian & Caucasus Muslim names guide
- Is it a Muslim name? 60 names checked
More boy names like Sher
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sher mean?
Sher means 'Lion'. It comes from Persian.
Is Sher a Muslim name?
Yes. Sher is a Persian name meaning lion, long used by Muslim families in South and Central Asia.
How do you write Sher in Arabic?
Sher is written شیر in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Sher?
Sher is pronounced SHEER.
What is the Arabic equivalent of Sher?
The Arabic names with the same meaning are Asad, Haidar and Layth, all meaning lion.
Can Sher be used on its own as a first name?
Yes. Sher is used alone, but it is very often combined with another name, as in Sher Ali, Sher Muhammad or Sher Khan.