Zahed
An Arabic name meaning ascetic, devotee, or self-disciplined.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Zahed. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zahed today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zahed births was 2022 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zahed. 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 Zahed with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zahed. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2022
5 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,282
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Zahed: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Zahed 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 Zahed during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Zahed
The name Zahed originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "zahid," which means "ascetic" or "one who renounces worldly pleasures." The name gained prominence during the early Islamic era, particularly among religious scholars and mystics who embraced a life of simplicity and spiritual devotion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zahed can be found in the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and Sufis from the 8th to 11th centuries CE. These individuals were known for their piety, wisdom, and profound understanding of Islamic teachings. The name Zahed was often associated with those who sought to attain a higher level of spiritual enlightenment through self-discipline and detachment from material possessions.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zahed. One of the most prominent was Zahed al-Bukhari (810-897 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith collector from Bukhara, modern-day Uzbekistan. His compilation of hadith, known as "Sahih al-Bukhari," is considered one of the most authentic and influential collections of prophetic traditions in Islamic literature.
Another significant figure was Zahed Gilani (1216-1301 CE), a revered Sufi saint and spiritual master from Lahore, Pakistan. He was the founder of the Qadiri Sufi order, which continues to have a significant following among Muslims worldwide. Gilani's teachings and writings profoundly influenced Islamic mysticism and spirituality.
In the realm of literature, Zahed Faridabadi (1530-1622 CE) was a celebrated Persian poet and mystic from Faridabad, India. His poetic works, imbued with spiritual themes and Sufi symbolism, have left an indelible mark on the Persian literary tradition.
Another noteworthy figure was Zahed Khan Abdali (1670-1745 CE), an Afghan military leader and founder of the Abdali dynasty in Afghanistan. He played a crucial role in unifying the Afghan tribes and establishing a powerful Afghan empire in the 18th century.
Lastly, Zahed Pasha (1845-1911 CE) was an Ottoman statesman and military leader who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1901 to 1903. He was known for his efforts to modernize and reform the Ottoman military and administrative systems.
The name Zahed has remained a popular choice among Muslims, particularly in regions with strong Islamic cultural influences, such as the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Its profound spiritual connotations and historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.
People
Zahed + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zahed as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zahed: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zahed?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zahed 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 Zahed a common name?
We classify Zahed 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 Zahed most popular?
The single biggest year for Zahed was 2022, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zahed is about 4 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 Zahed in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zahed a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zahed 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 Zahed still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zahed 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 Zahed 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 the name Zahed?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.