Sohel
Sohel is a Muslim boy name meaning “Canopus, a bright star”.
| Meaning | Canopus, a bright star |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Arabic, Bengali form |
| Arabic spelling | سهيل |
| Pronunciation | SHO-hel |
| Arabic root | س ه ل (s-h-l) — ease, smoothness |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Sohel
Sohel goes back to the Arabic name Suhayl, the traditional Arabic name for Canopus, the second-brightest star in the night sky, which shines low on the southern horizon. In Arabia the rising of Suhayl late in the summer was linked with the easing of the hottest season, and poets used the star as an image of something bright, rare and eagerly awaited. Grammatically Suhayl has a diminutive shape, and it is commonly linked to the root s-h-l, which carries the sense of ease and smoothness, so some explanations add a secondary meaning of 'gentle' or 'easy-going'. The core meaning of the name, however, is the star itself.
The spelling Sohel reflects how Bengali speakers say the word: the Arabic u becomes an o and the ay diphthong is reduced to a short e. In Urdu-speaking Pakistan and India the same name is usually written Sohail, and in the Gulf and the Levant it appears as Suhail or Suhayl. Sohel has been a familiar name for Bangladeshi boys for several generations and is also found among Bengali Muslims in West Bengal and among British Bangladeshis.
Famous people named Sohel
- Sohail Khan — Indian actor and film producer (variant Sohail)
- Sohail Tanvir — Pakistani cricketer (variant Sohail)
Is Sohel a Muslim name?
Yes. Sohel is a Bengali spelling of the Arabic name Suhail, meaning the bright star Canopus, and is widely used by Bangladeshi Muslims.
Where is the name Sohel used?
Very common in Bangladesh and among Bengali Muslims in India and the UK.
Gifts with the name Sohel
- Sohel name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Sohel baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Sohel
More boy names like Sohel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sohel mean?
Sohel means 'Canopus, a bright star'. It comes from Arabic, Bengali form.
Is Sohel a Muslim name?
Yes. Sohel is a Bengali spelling of the Arabic name Suhail, meaning the bright star Canopus, and is widely used by Bangladeshi Muslims.
How do you write Sohel in Arabic?
Sohel is written سهيل in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Sohel?
Sohel is pronounced SHO-hel.
Is Sohel the same name as Sohail?
Yes. Sohel, Sohail, Suhail and Suhayl are spellings of one Arabic name; Sohel is the Bengali form and Sohail the usual Urdu form.
Is Sohel mentioned in the Quran?
No. Suhayl does not appear as a name in the Quran; it is a classical Arabic star name that Muslims have used for centuries.