Shahab

Shahab is a masculine given name of Persian origin, meaning shooting star or meteor, derived from the Persian/Arabic word shaḥāb. It is commonly used in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and among Persian-speaking communities abroad. The name is often transliterated as Shahab or Shihab, reflecting different linguistic traditions and orthographies.

In cultural usage, Shahab appears as a first name for men in Persian-speaking societies and the Iranian diaspora. Notable public figures with the name include the Iranian actor Shahab Hosseini (born 1974), recognized for his work in film and television, including roles in prominent Iranian cinema.

In a separate context, Shahab refers to a family of Iranian ballistic missiles developed by the country. The Shahab program includes a series of missiles that are largely based on Scud designs, with Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 derived from earlier Scud models and Shahab-3 and later variants representing longer-range systems. The program has been a focal point in discussions of Iran’s strategic capabilities and regional security dynamics, influencing both policy and military considerations in the Middle East and beyond.

See also: Shihab, an alternate transliteration used in Arabic-speaking contexts.