| Sultan | Saif | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | ruler, authority | sword |
| Origin | arabic | arabic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | SUL-tun | SAYF |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2025 (161) | 2025 (147) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Sultan | Saif |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 816 | 665 |
| 2010s | 716 | 858 |
| 2000s | 293 | 612 |
| 1990s | 238 | 310 |
| 1980s | 166 | 74 |
| 1970s | 158 | 7 |
| 1960s | 9 | 0 |
From Arabic 'sultan', originally an abstract noun meaning 'strength, authority, rulership' (from 'sulta', power/authority), later a sovereign's title. Note: 'ruler/authority', and distinct from 'malik' (king) proper.
From sayf (س-ي-ف), meaning 'sword'. Often appears in the compound Sayf Allah ('Sword of God'), a title given to Khalid ibn al-Walid. Also spelled Sayf or Seif.
Sultan and Saif are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Sultan means ruler, authority (arabic origin), while Saif means sword (arabic origin).
In US records, Sultan first appears in 0 and Saif in 0, so Sultan has the longer recorded history.