Shahnaz

Shahnaz (Persian: شهناز) is a given name and surname of Persian origin. The name is made from شاه (Shah, "king"), and ناز (naz, "pride"), making it mean "pride of the king". The name may also appear using alternate spellings, such as Shanaz, Shehnaz, Shahnaze or Shenaz. This name has no link to Islam, but is culturally used by many Muslims especially in South Asia (Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh). It also is occasionally used by some Arabs. It is similar to Shahrnaz, a name mentioned for Shahrbanu, the wife of Imam Hussain.

Chanez, is the popular variant of Shahnaz in Maghreb especially Algeria and other non-maghreban countries like France.

Notable people with the name include:

Given name

Listed alphabetically by surname

Acting

Shehnaz Gill (born 1993), Indian actress
Shehnaz Pervaiz, Pakistani actress
Shehnaz Sheikh, Pakistani actress
Shenaz Treasury (born 1981), Indian actress

Politics

Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed (born 1954), Kurdish-Iraqi politician and writer
Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Pakistani politician
Shahnaz Ansari (1970–2020), Pakistani politician
Shahnaz Naseer Baloch (fl. 2018–2023), Pakistani politician
Shahnaz Himmeti (died 2013), Afghan politician
Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Pakistani politician
Shahnaz Rahman (died 2023), Nepalese politician
Shahnaz Sardar (fl. 1996–2001), Bangladeshi politician
Shehnaz Sheikh (politician) (fl. 2002–2012), Pakistani-Australian politician

Sports

Shahnaz Jafarizadeh (born 1994), Iranian footballer
Shahnaz Jebreen (born 1992), Jordanian footballer
Shahnaz Parvin Maleka, Bangladeshi Kabaddi player
Shahnaz Sheikh (born 1949), Pakistani field hockey player
Shahnaz Sohail, Pakistani cricketer

Writing

Shahnaz Azad (1901–1961), Iranian journalist and a pioneer of the women's movement in Iran
Shahnaz Bashir, Indian novelist
Shahnaz Fatmi (born 1949), Indian poet and writer
Shahnaz Habib, Indian writer and translator
Shahnaz Munni (born 1969), Bangladeshi journalist, poet and writer
Shenaz Patel (born 1966), Indo-Mauritian writer
Shahnaz Daoud (born 2005), German writer and philosopher

Other

Shanaaz Albertus South African Entrepreneur in Sports
Shahnaz Ali, Pakistani-born British activist
Shahnaz Bukhari, Pakistani clinical psychologist and activist
Shanaz Gulzar, British visual artist
Shahnaz Husain (born 1944), Indian entrepreneur
Shahnaz Laghari, Pakistani pilot
Shahnaz Pahlavi (born 1940), Iranian princess
Shahnaz Rahmatullah (1942–2019), Bangladeshi singer

Surname

Listed alphabetically by given name

Durreen Shahnaz (born 1968), Bangladeshi-American entrepreneur, professor, and speaker
Jalil Shahnaz (1921–2013), Persian classical music musician
Zeba Shehnaz (born 1952), Pakistani actress and comedian

Mononym

Shahnaz (actress), Bangladeshi film actress