Mashad
A Persian masculine name derived from the city of Mashhad, meaning "place of martyrdom".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Mashad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mashad today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mashad births was 1988 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mashad. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mashad. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1988
6 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
1988 SSA rank
#6,962
Tracked since 1988
Popularity
Mashad: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Mashad 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 Mashad during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Mashad
The name Mashad is believed to have originated from the Persian language, with its roots in the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the word "Mashhad," which refers to a city in northeastern Iran known for its holy shrines and religious significance.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mashad can be traced back to the 9th century CE, when the city of Mashhad was founded. It became an important center of Islamic culture and learning, attracting scholars and pilgrims from across the region.
In Persian literature, the name Mashad appears in various historical texts and poetry, often associated with the city's religious and cultural significance. For instance, the famous Persian poet Ferdowsi mentioned Mashad in his epic work, the Shahnameh, written in the late 10th century CE.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mashad. One of the most renowned was Mashad Ali Khan (1822-1881), a prominent Indian statesman and the third Nawab of Rampur. He played a crucial role in the administration of the Rampur State during the British Raj.
Another prominent individual with the name Mashad was Mashad Mirza (1714-1770), a Persian prince and military commander who served as the governor of several provinces in Iran during the Afsharid dynasty.
In the realm of literature, Mashad Ghazali (1858-1911) was a celebrated Persian poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the revival of Persian poetry in the late 19th century.
Mashad Hussain (1828-1907), an Indian Muslim scholar and historian, is also notable for his work in preserving and documenting the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent.
Additionally, Mashad Iqbal (1877-1938), a renowned Pakistani philosopher, poet, and politician, is widely regarded as a national icon in Pakistan and is celebrated for his literary works and advocacy for Muslim unity and independence.
While the name Mashad has its roots in Persian culture and Islamic history, it has also gained recognition across various regions and communities over time, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and historical connections between different parts of the world.
People
Mashad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mashad as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mashad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mashad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mashad 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Mashad a common name?
We classify Mashad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mashad most popular?
The single biggest year for Mashad was 1988, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mashad is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mashad in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mashad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mashad 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.
Is Mashad still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mashad in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mashad can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Mashad?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.