Masud
An Arabic masculine name meaning "fortunate" or "of auspicious omen".
Name Census estimates that about 260 living Americans carry the first name Masud. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Masud today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Masud births was 2018 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Masud. 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
260
~ 1 in 1,318,286 Americans
Peak year
2018
21 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,079
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Masud: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Masud from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 127 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Masud remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Masud 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 Masud during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Masuds live
Origin
Meaning and history of Masud
The name Masud has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the medieval era in regions that are now part of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. It is derived from the Persian root words "mas'ud" or "mas'oud," which translate to "fortunate," "prosperous," or "blessed."
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear this name was Masud I, the Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, who ruled from 998 to 1030 CE. He was a renowned military leader and patron of the arts, known for his conquests and cultural contributions during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another notable figure was Masud II, the Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, who ruled from 1134 to 1152 CE. He was celebrated for his military achievements and for his efforts in promoting education and intellectual pursuits within his realm.
In the realm of literature, Masud Sa'd Salman, a 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, is remembered for his contributions to the rich literary tradition of the region. His works, which often explored themes of love and spirituality, were highly influential during his time and remain celebrated to this day.
Moving forward in history, Masud Khan (1888-1971) was a prominent Indian Muslim political leader and statesman who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He served as the first Minister of the Interior in the interim government of India and later became the first Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in Pakistan.
Masud Rana (1938-2020) was a renowned Pakistani writer and intellectual who made significant contributions to Urdu literature and literary criticism. He was widely recognized for his novels, short stories, and essays, which explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues.
These are just a few examples of the many historical figures who have borne the name Masud, a name that carries a rich heritage and has been associated with individuals who have left their mark on various fields throughout history.
People
Masud + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Masud 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
Masud: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Masud?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 260 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Masud 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 1,318,286 US residents.
Is Masud a common name?
We classify Masud as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 263 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Masud most popular?
The single biggest year for Masud was 2018, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Masud is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Masud a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Masud 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.