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Sheikh

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHAYK /ˈʃeɪk/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic shaykh, 'an elder, a chief; a respected leader, a learned/wise man'Medium

In 30 seconds: An elder and chief: Sheikh is Arabic for 'an elder, a respected leader'. Dignified, strong, and warm.

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Origin MediumArabic

MeaningFrom Arabic shaykh, 'an elder, a chief; a respected leader, a learned/wise man'

U.S. rank (2024)#5008 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births20 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 405

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sheikh comes from Arabic shaykh, 'an elder, a chief; a respected leader, a learned and wise man' — a title of honor across the Arab and Muslim world, also widely used as a surname and name. A dignified, strong name (said 'SHAYK').

In the U.S. it appears in Muslim and South Asian families. Rare, an-elder-chief at the root, and dignified.

Did you know? Sheikh (shaykh) means 'an elder, a chief; a respected leader or learned man' in Arabic — a title of honor used as a name and surname; dignified and strong.

Overall data confidence 72%

Arabic references — shaykh — etymology

Variations

ShaikhShaykhSheik

Nicknames

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sheikh mean?

Sheikh is Arabic for 'an elder, a chief; a respected leader'.

How do you pronounce Sheikh?

It's said SHAYK /ˈʃeɪk/ — a single syllable.

Is Sheikh a boy or girl name?

Sheikh is a boy's name.

How popular is Sheikh?

Sheikh is a rare name in the U.S.