Saheb
A masculine Indian name meaning lord or master.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Saheb. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Saheb today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saheb births was 2010 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saheb. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Saheb with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Saheb. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2010
5 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2010 SSA rank
#13,882
Tracked since 2010
Popularity
Saheb: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Saheb 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 Saheb during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Saheb
The name Saheb originated from the Persian language and was initially used as a title of respect and honor. It is derived from the Persian word "ṣāḥib," meaning "owner," "master," or "lord." The name gained popularity during the Islamic Golden Age, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia, where Persian culture and language had a significant influence.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Saheb can be found in Persian literature from the 9th and 10th centuries. It was often used as a title for rulers, nobles, and prominent figures in society. The name also appeared in various Islamic texts, including the Quran and Hadith, where it was used to refer to individuals of high status or authority.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Saheb. One of the most famous was Saheb Ibn Abbad (1083-1145), a renowned Arab poet and writer who lived during the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties in Spain and North Africa. Another prominent figure was Saheb al-Din Ghori (1149-1206), a Muslim ruler who established the Delhi Sultanate and played a crucial role in the spread of Islam in the Indian subcontinent.
In the 16th century, Saheb Anga (1554-1628), a Muslim poet and mystic from Bengal, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of Bengali literature. During the Mughal Empire, Saheb Qiran (1542-1605), also known as Akbar the Great, was a renowned emperor known for his religious tolerance and cultural achievements.
In more recent times, Saheb Jaan (1902-1972), an Indian classical vocalist and musician, was highly acclaimed for his contributions to Hindustani classical music. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 1971.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Saheb, reflecting its significance and widespread use across various cultures and regions influenced by Persian language and traditions.
People
Saheb + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saheb as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Saheb: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saheb?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saheb 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Saheb a common name?
We classify Saheb as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Saheb most popular?
The single biggest year for Saheb was 2010, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saheb is about 16 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 Saheb in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Saheb a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Saheb 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 Saheb still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Saheb 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 Saheb 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 have Saheb as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Saheb on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.