Suhail
Primarily a boy's name of Arabic origin with 374 recorded births. Also given to 25 girls.
Meaning & Origin
The star Lambda Velorum
Suhail is a boy's and girl's baby name of Arabic origin, from the Arabic suhail, meaning 'easy' or 'smooth' — and also the Arabic name for the star Canopus, the second-brightest star in the night sky, used for navigation by Arab sailors for centuries.
Suhail carries the double meaning of earthly ease and celestial brightness — a name used for millennia in Arabic-speaking countries and across the Muslim world. Its star connection gives it a cosmic poetry, while its meaning of ease and smoothness suggests a person for whom things come naturally and who moves through life with grace.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Suhail is a boy's name with several decades of recorded use (1975–2024). Its Arabic roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Suhail is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #4671), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Suhail climbed 4136 spots in the last 20 years — from #8807 to #4671.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 65 | #7310 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 118 | #7771 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 88 | #8675 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 75 | #7661 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 22 | #7146 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 6 | #5376 | — |
The Story of Suhail
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2024, Suhail is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Suhail are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Suhail?
Only about 1 in every 163,636 babies born in 2024 was named Suhail — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1975, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 118 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Suhail by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Suhail per day would take 1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1975–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | #4671 |
| 2023 | 12 | #7240 |
| 2022 | 14 | #6430 |
| 2021 | 8 | #9576 |
| 2020 | 9 | #8631 |
| 2019 | 12 | #7114 |
| 2018 | 6 | #11948 |
| 2017 | 15 | #6032 |
| 2016 | 19 | #5103 |
| 2015 | 13 | #6629 |
| 2014 | 11 | #7486 |
| 2013 | 9 | #8675 |
| 2012 | 7 | #10610 |
| 2011 | 9 | #8670 |
| 2010 | 17 | #5443 |
| 2009 | 14 | #6385 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7633 |
| 2007 | 10 | #8082 |
| 2006 | 9 | #8631 |
| 2005 | 5 | #13096 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Suhail as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Suhail has also been given to 25 girls in the U.S. since 1976.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suhail a boy's or girl's name?
When was Suhail most popular?
How popular is the name Suhail?
Can Suhail be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1975–2024