Akhtar ( fa, links=no, ) means "star" in

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

. It is a unisex name. It is also a common surname. A variant spelling is Akhter. Notable people with the given name or surname include:

Given name

Akhtar

* Akhtar Aly Kureshy Pakistani lawyer and professor *

Akhtar ul Iman Akhtar ul Iman (12 November 1915 9 March 1996) was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who had a major influence on modern Urdu nazm. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 1963 for '' Dharmputra'' and 1966 for '' ...

(1915–1996), Indian Urdu poet and screenwriter *

Akhtar Mengal Akhtar Mengal (born 6 October 1962) is a politician from Balochistan who is the chairman of Balochistan National Party (Mengal). He previously served as the Chief Minister of Balochistan between 1997 and 1998 and later he served as a member of t ...

, Pakistani politician *

Akhtar Hameed Khan Akhter Hameed Khan ( ur, , pronounced ; 15 July 1914 – 9 October 1999) was a Pakistani development practitioner and social scientist. He promoted participatory rural development in Pakistan and other developing countries, and widely advocat ...

, Pakistani development practitioner and social scientist * Akhtar Khan, British television and radio presenter for the BBC * Akhtar Chaudhry, Pakistani-Norwegian politician * Akhtar Hussain Malik, general of the Pakistan Army

Akhter

Akhter Husain Akhter Husain (Urdu: ), HPk, OBE, (1 August 1902 – 15 July 1983) was a senior statesman and civil servant of Pakistan. He was appointed Governor of West Pakistan in September 1957 succeeding Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani and then continued in thi ...

(1902–1983), Pakistani politician

Aktar

Aktar Islam Aktar Islam (born 1980) is a multiple award-winning British Michelin starred chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur. He left the Lasan Group in 2016 to work on his new, flagship project, Opheem and launched his new Italian restaurant, Legna in win ...

, British-Bangladeshi restaurateur

Surname

Akhtar

Ayad Akhtar Ayad Akhtar (born October 28, 1970) is an American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter of Pakistani heritage, awarded the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. His work has received two Tony Award nominations for Best Play, an Award in Literature fr ...

, American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter *

Farhan Akhtar Farhan Akhtar (born 9 January 1974) is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, playback singer, producer, and television host who works in Hindi films. Born in Mumbai to screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, he grew up under the influ ...

, Indian film director *

Gulraiz Akhtar Gulraiz Akhtar (2 February 1943 – 1 November 2021) was a Pakistani field hockey player. He was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan to Muhammad Amin and Amina. Although his father was a lawyer by profession, Akhtar had a humble upbringing. He was four ...

, Pakistani field hockey player *

Jan Nisar Akhtar Jan Nisar Akhtar (18 February 1914 – 19 August 1976) was an Indian poet of Urdu ghazals and nazms, and a part of the Progressive Writers' Movement, who was also a lyricist for Bollywood. He was son of Muztar Khairabadi and great grandson ...

, Indian poet *

Javed Akhtar Javed Akhtar (born 17 January 1945) is an Indian poet, lyricist, screenwriter and political activist. Known for his work in Hindi cinema, he has won five National Film Awards, and received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2 ...

, film writer and poet from India *

Najma Akhtar Najma Akhtar also known as Najma (born 18 September 1962) is a British singer of Indian ancestry. She was born in Chelmsford, England. She is noted for jazz modification of the traditional Urdu Indian ghazal (love songs and spiritual songs). ...

, British singer *

Saleem Akhtar Raja Saleem Akhtar (Punjabi, Urdu: ) (8 September 1930 – 22 April 2004) was a former Pakistani cricketer who played for Multan and Sargodha. H ...

, Pakistani former cricketer *

Shamshad Akhtar Shamshad Akhtar is a Pakistani development economist, United Nations diplomat and banker who also served as the caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan. Prior to that, she served as the 14th Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the first wo ...

, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific *

Shoaib Akhtar Shoaib Akhtar (; ; born 13 August 1975) is a Pakistani former cricketer and commentator. Nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express", he was the first bowler to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour, a feat he achieved twice in his career. Ak ...

, Pakistani former cricketer *

Zoya Akhtar Zoya Akhtar (born 14 October 1972) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. After completing a diploma in filmmaking from NYU, she assisted directors such as Mira Nair, Tony Gerber and Dev Benegal, before becom ...

, Indian film director

Akhter

Mahfuza Akhter Mahfuza Akhter Kiron ( bn, মাহফুজা আক্তার কিরণ; born 12 February 1967) is a Bangladeshi football administrator and a member of the FIFA Council. In May 2017, Akhter won the election for the seat on the FIFA Cou ...

, Bangladeshi football administrator, member of the FIFA Council *

Doli Akhter Doli Akhter, born 15 January 1986, is an Olympic swimmer from Bangladesh. She has swum for Bangladesh at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. On all three occasions, she attended thanks to a wild card qualification. She competed in the 100m bre ...

(born 1986), Olympic swimmer from Bangladesh *

Moin Akhter Moin Akhter (also: "معین اختر" Moin Akhtar), (24 December 1950 – 22 April 2011) was a Pakistani television, film and stage artist, humorist, comedian, impersonator, host, writer, singer, director and producer who rose to fame in the e ...

(1950–2011), Pakistani television actor *

Salma Akhter Moushumi Akhter Salma (known as Salma Akhter) is a Bangladeshi folk singer. She rose to fame in 2006 after winning the second season of ''"Closeup 1 Tomakei Khujchhey Bangladesh"'', a television series broadcast on NTV (Bangladesh), NTV. Early l ...

, Bangladeshi singer

Aktar

Cengiz Aktar Cengiz Aktar (born 1955 in Istanbul) is a Turkish political scientist, essayist and columnist. He has published numerous books on the European Union and its relations with Turkey. He was a director at the UNHCR and worked extensively with the ...

, Turkish scientist *

Mohammad Aktar Mohammad Aktar (born 2 August 1962) is an Afghan former wrestler, who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially know ...

, Afghan wrestler

Given name

Akhtar

Akhter

Aktar

Surname

Akhtar

Akhter

Aktar

See also