Unisex name
Şah name meaning
“sovereign, king”
Şah means sovereign or king. Used for both girls and boys in Türkiye, it comes from Persian šāh and entered Turkish as a title and an element in personal names. A concrete everyday association is the king in chess, called şah in Turkish, preserving the word's royal meaning.
What does Şah mean?
Sovereign, king
In Turkish: hükümdar, kral
Şah is a central title in Iranian royal tradition and also appears in Turkish historical vocabulary. The same word names the king in chess. It can stand alone as a given name or occur in compounds such as Şahinaz and Şahbanu, without implying that its bearer holds an actual royal title.
Origin of the name Şah
From Persian shāh, “king” or “sovereign.” Turkish adopted it both as a title and as an element in personal names.
Double names with Şah
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Şah Ateş
Meaning of each name
- Şah: sovereign, king
- Ateş: flame, heat and light produced by burning
-
Turan Şah
Meaning of each name
- Turan: the land of Tur in Iranian tradition
- Şah: sovereign, king
-
Şah Tayfun
Meaning of each name
- Şah: sovereign, king
- Tayfun: powerful tropical cyclone
-
Pertev Şah
Meaning of each name
- Pertev: radiance, gleam, a ray of light
- Şah: sovereign, king
-
Şah Havar
Meaning of each name
- Şah: sovereign, king
- Havar: cry for help, appeal for aid
-
Alay Şah
Meaning of each name
- Alay: regiment; ceremonial procession
- Şah: sovereign, king
How to pronounce Şah
| Syllables | 1 · 3 letters · 3-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ʃah/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | شاه |
Is Şah a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Şah is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 50% of bearers are male. See all unisex names.
Şah does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 4 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Şah
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Şah
- Şah Turna · b. 1950
FAQ about the name Şah
What is the meaning of Şah?
Şah means “sovereign, king”. From Persian shāh, “king” or “sovereign.” Turkish adopted it both as a title and as an element in personal names.
Is Şah a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Şah is used for both boys and girls. In our data, 50% of bearers are male.
Is Şah in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Şah nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Şah?
Şah is of Persian origin.
How many syllables does Şah have?
Şah has 1 syllable and 3 letters.
How popular is the name Şah?
Şah does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 4 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
What names go well with Şah?
Some ideas: Şah Ateş; Turan Şah; Şah Tayfun.
Famous people named Şah?
Notable people named Şah include Şah Turna.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm02315 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake