Sultan
From the root s-l-ṭ, 'power, authority'. A title of rule that became an ordinary given name.
- Root
- s-l-ṭ (س-ل-ط)
- Gender
- Male
- Meaning
- Authority, dominion
- Origin
- Arabic
Meaning and root
From s-l-ṭ (س-ل-ط). In classical Arabic *sulṭān* first meant proof or warrant — the authority a claim rests on — and then power itself and the one who holds it.
From title to name
Sulṭān was a title of rule for centuries before it settled into ordinary use as a given name. Like Shaikha and Amīr, it now carries no claim of office.
Frequently asked questions
What did sulṭān originally mean?
Proof or warrant — the authority a claim rests on — before it came to mean power itself and the one who holds it.
Sources
- ابن منظور، لسان العرب، 711هـ — مادة: سلط
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27