Rising since 2022, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Shaheed since 1975
Babies named Shaheed per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 137 |
| 1980s | 225 |
| 1990s | 371 |
| 2000s | 238 |
| 2010s | 127 |
| 2020s | 40 |
Meaning & origin
Shaheed entered U.S. naming records in 1975 and saw its peak popularity in 1994. As of 2025, it ranks 10,695 with an incidence of 1 in 284,679 births, and it has been rising in use since 2022. The name carries profound meaning in Arabic and Islamic tradition, where it denotes a witness to faith or a martyr. While not among the most common names, Shaheed has maintained a steady presence in American naming, particularly within communities that value its spiritual and cultural resonance. Its trajectory suggests a modest but growing interest in recent years.
Shaheed derives from the Arabic root sh-h-d (ش-ه-د), meaning 'to witness' or 'to testify.' In Islamic contexts, the term shahīd (شهيد) traditionally refers to a person who bears witness to their faith, and it has come to denote a martyr who dies for their beliefs. The name is widely used across Muslim-majority regions and among Arabic-speaking communities, often carrying deep religious and cultural significance.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shaheed
Sibling names for Shaheed
Names that share Shaheed's style, for a brother or sister.
