Rising since 1986, #738 for boys today.
Popularity of Zahir since 1973
Babies named Zahir per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 17 |
| 1980s | 68 |
| 1990s | 230 |
| 2000s | 909 |
| 2010s | 1,691 |
| 2020s | 1,862 |
Meaning & origin
Zahir entered the U.S. naming landscape in 1973, and it has been on a steady upward trajectory since 1986. In 2025, it reached its peak popularity to date, ranking 738th with about 1 in every 4798 newborn boys receiving the name. The name is most common in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Georgia, reflecting a concentration in states with diverse populations. Zahir is a direct borrowing from Arabic, where it carries the meaning 'bright, shining, or apparent' and also serves as one of the 99 names of God in Islam. Its sound is straightforward yet distinctive, and it has not diversified into many spelling variants or nicknames, though 'Z' and 'Zahi' are occasionally used. The name's consistent rise in usage suggests growing appreciation for its clear meaning and cross-cultural appeal.
Zahir derives from the Arabic root ẓ-h-r, meaning 'to be manifest, clear, or visible.' It appears in the Quran as a name of Allah (Al-Zahir, 'the Manifest'). As a personal name, it has been used across the Muslim world for centuries. In the United States, Zahir first entered the Social Security records in 1973 and has been rising in use since the mid-1980s.
Where Zahir is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Zahir” around the world
Where Zahir lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Z, Zahi
Sibling names for Zahir
Names that share Zahir's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Amina, Layla, Nora, Samira, Zara, Jahaira, Jahzara, Jariyah, Nadirah, Zalayah, Jahayra, Jahnya, Jasira, Nashira, Nazari, Sahari, Shahara, Shamirah, Zahirah, Zalika, Carime, Jahara, Jahira, Zahriyah, Zamarah, Zuleica
Brothers: Amir, Khalil, Rashid, Zayn, Zia, Jahir, Sekani, Arsalan, Jamani, Dahmir, Tahmir, Vadhir, Caleel, Dameir, Jaheir, Nahiem, Zakar, Zidaan, Zyeir
