sitara

Sitara is a feminine given name and a common noun in several South Asian languages. In Urdu and Hindi, sitara means star, used both literally and metaphorically to denote brightness, fame, or guidance. The term derives from Persian sitāra, and through linguistic contact it entered South Asian vocabulary and naming practices.

As a given name, Sitara is used across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and among diaspora communities. It is chosen for its positive associations with light and visibility and as part of a broader tradition of Persian- and Arabic-derived names in the region.

In culture, Sitara has been used in literature, cinema, and music as a title or character name to convey elegance, radiance, or heroism, reflecting the symbolic meaning of the star. The name also appears in branding and occasionally in toponymy in areas where Persianate linguistic influence is present.

While most commonly encountered as a female given name, Sitara can appear in various contexts as a symbolic term for star. Its usage underscores the cross-cultural influence of Persian, Urdu, and Hindi vocabularies in naming and expression.