Akhtar, Akhter, or Aktar (, ) is a unisex given name and surname of Persian origin. Notable people with the name include:
Given name Akhtar Akhtar Abbas, Pakistani politician Akhtar Ali (1939–2021), Indian tennis player Akhtar Ayub (born 1987), Pakistani cricketer Akhtar Hussain Badshah, Pakistani politician Akhtar Baloch (1967–2022), Pakistani writer, journalist, and historian Akhtar Hossain Bhuiyan (born 1959), Bangladeshi civil servant Akhtar Bibi, Pakistani politician Akhtar Chaudhry (born 1961), Pakistani-Norwegian politician Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, Pakistani police officer Akhtar Hassan Khan Gorchani (born 1958), Pakistani diplomat, politician, and intelligence official Akhtar Habib, Bangladeshi Navy officer Akhtar Hossain (1945–2026), Bangladeshi writer Akhtar Husain (1912–1992), Pakistani scholar, journalist, and lexicographer Akhtar Hussain (field hockey) (1926–1987), Pakistani field hockey player Akhtar Hussain (lawyer) (born 1946), Pakistani lawyer, judge, and politician Akhtar Hussain (sarangi player) (born 1959), Pakistani sarangi player Akhtar Hussain (umpire) (died 1973), Pakistani cricket umpire Akhtar Imam (1917–2009), Bangladeshi educationist, feminist, and social activist Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996), Indian Urdu poet and screenwriter Akhtarul Iman (born 1964), Indian politician Akhtar-ul-Islam (born 1947), Pakistani field hockey player Akhtar Jadoon, Pakistani politician Akhtar Ali G. Kazi (1944–2010), Pakistani politician Akhtar Khan, British journalist and radio presenter Akhtar Khan (politician), Pakistani politician Akhtar Hameed Khan (1914–1999), Pakistani development practitioner and social scientist Akhtar Hussain Khan (musician) (1900–1974), Pakistani vocalist and musician Akhtar Raza Khan (1943–2018), Indian Islamic scholar, cleric, and mufti Akhtar Hussain Langove, Pakistani politician Akhtar Mahal, Mughal consort Akhtar Hussain Malik (1910s–1969), general of the Pakistan Army Akhtar Mansur (1959–2016), Afghan militant Akhtar Mengal (born 1962), Pakistani politician Akhtar Mirza, Indian screenwriter and director Akhtar Mohiuddin (born 1956), Pakistani football player and coach Akhtar Mohiuddin (writer) (1928–2001), Indian novelist, playwright, and short story writer Akhtar Naraghi, Canadian poet, writer, and scholar Akhtar Nawab, American chef and restaurateur Akhtar Mohammad Osmani (died 2006), Afghan Taliban leader Akhtar Payami (1931–2013), Indian-Pakistani journalist, poet, and writer Akhtar Purvez, Indian-American author, physician, and medical researcher Akhtar Abdur Rahman (1924–1988), Pakistani Army general Akhtar Rasool (born 1954), Pakistani field hockey player Akhtar Sadmani (1934–2003), Bangladeshi singer Akhtar Raza Saleemi (born 1974), Pakistani poet, novelist, writer, critic, and editor Akhtar Sarfraz (1976–2019), Pakistani cricketer and coach Akhtar Shah (born 2002), Pakistani cricketer Akhtarul Islam Shahin, Indian politician Akhtar Sheerani (1905–1948), Pakistani poet Akhtar Hameed Siddiqui (1947–2017), Bangladeshi politician Akhtar Usman (born 1969), Pakistani poet, critic, columnist, and writer Akhtar Ali Vario (1933–2008), Pakistani politician Akhtarul Wasey (born 1951), Indian scholar and academician Akhtar Chanal Zahri (born 1954), Pakistani folk singer
Akhter Akhter-ul Alam (died 2010), Bangladeshi journalist and diplomat Akhter Hossen (born 1997), Bangladeshi politician and activist Akhter Husain (1902–1983), Pakistani politician Akhter Hussain (professor), Bangladeshi academic Akhter Mia (1920–1984), Bangladesh politician
Aktar Aktar Islam (born 1980), British-Bangladeshi restaurateur
Surname Akhtar Adeel Akhtar (born 1980), British actor Ayad Akhtar (born 1970), American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Farhan Akhtar (born 1974), Indian film director Gulraiz Akhtar (1943–2021), Pakistani field hockey player Jan Nisar Akhtar (1914–1976), Indian poet Javed Akhtar (born 1945), Indian film writer and poet Kabir Akhtar (born 1975), American director and editor Saghir Akhtar, Qatari chemist Saleem Akhtar (1930–2004), Pakistani former cricketer Shamshad Akhtar (1954–2025), Pakistani economist, diplomat, banker, and politician Shoaib Akhtar (born 1975), Pakistani cricketer Zoya Akhtar (born 1972), Indian film director
Akhter Doli Akhter (born 1986), Bangladeshi Olympic swimmer Mahfuza Akhter (born 1967), Bangladeshi football administrator Moin Akhter (1950–2011), Pakistani television actor Salma Akhter (born 1991), Bangladeshi singer
Aktar Cengiz Aktar (born 1955), Turkish scientist Mohammad Aktar (born 1962), Afghan wrestler
Compound names with the element Akhtar Akhtar-ud-Din (Star of the Religion) Akhter Uddin Mia (1920–1984), Bangladeshi politician Akhtaruddin Ahmad (born 1930), Bangladeshi lawyer and government minister A. F. Muhammad Akhtaruddin (born 1968), Bangladeshi cricket umpire Akhtar-ul-Iman (Star of Faith) Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996), Indian poet and screenwriter Akhtarul Iman (born 1964), Indian politician Akhtar-ul-Islam (Star of Islam) Akhtarul Islam (born 1947), Pakistani field hockey player Akhtar-ul-Islam (born 1947), Pakistani field hockey player Akhtarul Islam Shahin (born 1979), Indian politician Akhtarul Wasey (born 1951), Indian academician Akhtaruzzaman, multiple people
See also Akhtar, a Persian-language periodical founded in Istanbul, 1876 Akhtaruzzaman, a derived name