Jahad
A masculine Arabic name meaning "striving" or "struggle".
Name Census estimates that about 408 living Americans carry the first name Jahad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jahad today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jahad births was 1994 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jahad. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
408
~ 1 in 840,084 Americans
Peak year
1994
25 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,015
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Jahad: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jahad from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 160 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jahad by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jahad during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jahads live
Origin
Meaning and history of Jahad
The name Jahad has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the early days of Islam. It is derived from the Arabic word "jihad," which carries a profound religious and spiritual significance within the Islamic faith.
In its original context, "jihad" refers to the internal struggle and sincere effort to lead a righteous life, overcome one's temptations, and strive towards inner peace and self-purification. It is a concept that emphasizes personal and spiritual growth, as well as the pursuit of justice and the defense of one's faith and community when necessary.
The name Jahad has been mentioned in various Islamic texts and historical records throughout the centuries. One notable figure bearing this name was Jahad ibn Muawiyah, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived during the 9th century in what is now present-day Iraq. He was highly regarded for his contributions to the study and interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia).
Another prominent individual with the name Jahad was Jahad al-Bukhari, a 12th-century Islamic philosopher and theologian from Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan. He was known for his influential works on Islamic theology and his efforts to reconcile reason and revelation within the Islamic intellectual tradition.
In the 13th century, Jahad al-Din al-Qazwini, a Persian scholar and geographer, gained recognition for his comprehensive work on geography and the natural sciences. His book, entitled "The Marvels of Creatures and the Curiosities of Things Existing," was widely studied and referenced in the Islamic world.
During the 14th century, Jahad ibn Abi Bakr al-Siddiq, a renowned Islamic mystic and Sufi master, left a lasting impact on the spiritual teachings of Sufism. His writings and teachings focused on the inner purification of the soul and the attainment of a deep connection with the divine.
In the 16th century, Jahad Khan, a prominent military leader and statesman, played a pivotal role in the Mughal Empire, serving as the governor of several provinces and contributing to the expansion and consolidation of the empire's territories.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the name Jahad throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from scholarship and philosophy to spirituality and governance. The name's roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture have endowed it with a rich cultural and religious significance, serving as a reminder of the profound values and ideals that it represents.
People
Jahad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jahad as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jahad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jahad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 408 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jahad going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 840,084 US residents.
Is Jahad a common name?
We classify Jahad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 416 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jahad most popular?
The single biggest year for Jahad was 1994, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jahad is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jahad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jahad in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.