Shaheed
Derived from Arabic, meaning "martyr" or "one who sacrifices".
Name Census estimates that about 1,100 living Americans carry the first name Shaheed. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shaheed today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shaheed births was 1994 (60 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shaheed. 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
1.1K
~ 1 in 311,595 Americans
Peak year
1994
60 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,701
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Shaheed: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shaheed from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 371 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
Shaheed 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 Shaheed during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shaheeds live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York recorded the most babies named Shaheed, while California, New York, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 96 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shaheed
The name Shaheed is derived from Arabic and has its roots in Islamic culture and tradition. It is related to the Arabic word "shahid," which means "martyr" or "witness." The name gained prominence during the early days of Islam, particularly in the context of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of their faith.
In the Islamic tradition, the concept of martyrdom holds significant importance, and those who attain this status are revered and honored. The name Shaheed is often associated with individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs, whether in battle or through other forms of persecution.
One of the earliest known references to the name Shaheed can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The term "shahid" is mentioned multiple times, emphasizing the importance and reverence accorded to those who have given their lives in the path of Allah.
Throughout Islamic history, there have been numerous individuals who have been bestowed with the title or name Shaheed, commemorating their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to their faith. One notable example is Shaheed Ali Haideri, a prominent Shia scholar and revolutionary who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a pivotal role in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and was executed for his efforts in 1909.
Another famous figure bearing the name Shaheed is Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was a charismatic leader and a prominent voice for democracy in the country. Tragically, he was executed in 1979 after being convicted in a controversial trial.
In the context of the Indian subcontinent, the name Shaheed holds particular significance due to the region's rich Islamic heritage and history. One prominent bearer of the name was Shaheed Udham Singh, an Indian revolutionary who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.
The name Shaheed has also been carried by prominent figures in other parts of the world, such as Shaheed Baqir al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shia scholar and philosopher who was executed in 1980 for his political and religious views. His teachings and writings had a profound impact on contemporary Islamic thought.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Shaheed throughout history, each with their own unique stories and contributions. The name carries a profound significance, serving as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have stood firm in their beliefs and principles, even in the face of adversity and persecution.
People
Shaheed + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shaheed 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
Shaheed: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shaheed?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,100 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shaheed 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 311,595 US residents.
Is Shaheed a common name?
We classify Shaheed as "Rare". It ranks above 90.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,132 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shaheed most popular?
The single biggest year for Shaheed was 1994, when 60 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shaheed is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shaheed a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shaheed 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.