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Sultan

Boy name · 16 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sultan: 16 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 7 births in 2025.

Sultan is a name of Arabic origin, derived directly from the word *sulṭān*, meaning "ruler," "king," or "authority." Historically, it was not a given name but a title borne by Islamic sovereigns, most famously Saladin (Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub), the 12th-century Sultan of Egypt and Syria who led Muslim forces during the Crusades. In more modern times, Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, a Saudi prince and astronaut, became the first Arab and first Muslim in space in 1985. The name has no direct Scottish place connection, though its root shares the same Semitic origin as the word "sultanate," referring to territories once ruled by such leaders. A notable variant is the Turkish Sultana, a feminine form occasionally used as a given name, while in Scotland the name remains rare but evocative of strength and leadership.