Suhail
/suːˈheɪl/noun
Suhail is an Arabic masculine given name and the traditional Arabic name for Canopus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Did you know?Canopus, called Suhail in Arabic astronomy, was a crucial southern navigation star for sailors and desert travelers who could see it.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*s-h-l
“A root associated with ease, smoothness, or an unobstructed surface”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
sahl
“Easy, gentle, smooth, or level land”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
suhayl
“A diminutive form, traditionally understood as “little smooth/easy one””
Medieval Islamic Astronomy
Arabic
Suhayl
“The Arabic name for Canopus, the brilliant star used in navigation and seasonal observation”
19th–20th Century
English
Suhail
“A transliterated Arabic personal name and stellar name”
Modern English
English
Suhail
“A masculine given name, also used in English contexts for the star Canopus”