Shahid
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "witness" or "martyr".
Name Census estimates that about 690 living Americans carry the first name Shahid. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shahid today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shahid births was 2000 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shahid. 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
690
~ 1 in 496,745 Americans
Peak year
2000
24 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,702
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Shahid: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shahid from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 159 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
Shahid 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 Shahid during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shahids live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Shahid, while California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shahid
The name Shahid has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "shahid," which means "witness" or "martyr." The name traces its roots back to the earliest days of Islam in the 7th century.
In Islamic tradition, the term "shahid" refers to those who bear witness to their faith and are willing to sacrifice their lives for it. The concept of martyrdom holds a significant place in Islamic theology, and those who attain martyrdom are believed to be granted a special status in the afterlife.
One of the earliest and most renowned individuals to bear the name Shahid was Shahid ibn Jahsh, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century. He was known for his bravery and sacrifices during the early battles of Islam.
Throughout history, the name Shahid has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields. In the 11th century, Shahid al-Balkhi was a renowned Persian philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
In more recent times, Shahid Bhagat Singh (1907-1931) was a prominent revolutionary in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. His acts of defiance and eventual execution at a young age made him a revered figure in India's struggle for freedom.
Another notable individual was Shahid Qadri (1924-1986), a Pakistani poet and playwright who was widely acclaimed for his literary works and contributions to the Urdu language. His poetry often explored themes of social justice and the human condition.
Shahid Afridi (born 1975) is a famous Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team for over two decades and is renowned for his aggressive batting style and exceptional all-round skills.
Shahid Kapoor (born 1981) is a popular Indian film actor who has starred in numerous Bollywood productions and has received several awards for his performances, including several Filmfare Awards.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Shahid throughout history, each making their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Shahid + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shahid 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
Shahid: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shahid?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 690 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shahid 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 496,745 US residents.
Is Shahid a common name?
We classify Shahid as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 711 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shahid most popular?
The single biggest year for Shahid was 2000, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shahid is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shahid a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shahid 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.