Fun Facts About the Name Zaahir
- 301 babies named Zaahir: U.S. records list 301 babies given the name Zaahir from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zaahir Mean?
Zaahir is an Arabic name meaning "apparent," "visible," or "manifest." It comes from the Arabic adjective ẓāhir (ظاهر), formed from the root ẓ-h-r, which concerns appearing, being visible, or coming into view. The literal sense is outward or plainly seen; "evident" is a common English gloss. The spelling Zaahir marks the long ā of the Arabic form, while Zahir and Zaher are other transliterations of the same name.
Zaahir Name History & Origins
The word ẓāhir belongs to a basic Arabic root for appearing or becoming visible, and it is the opposite of bāṭin, "hidden" or "inward." That pairing gave the word a fixed place in Islamic religious language: al-Ẓāhir, "the Manifest," is one of the divine names, and the Qur'an pairs al-Ẓāhir with al-Bāṭin in 57:3. The related regnal title al-Ẓāhir was used by medieval rulers, including the Fatimid caliph al-Ẓāhir (reigned 1021 - 1036) and the Mamluk sultan al-Ẓāhir Baybars (reigned 1260 - 1277). These regnal uses show the word in political as well as religious vocabulary; they do not mark the beginning of the personal name. As a given name, Zaahir and its transliterated forms are used in Arabic-speaking countries and in Muslim communities elsewhere, with the English spelling reflecting the long vowel of the Arabic word.
How Popular is the Name Zaahir?
Zaahir has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #4,602 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,440 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #6,801 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #4,602 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #5,434 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #7,080 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #5,033 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2019 | #5,547 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,532 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #9,664 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #10,710 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #8,021 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,612 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #6,232 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #7,037 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #7,490 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #9,664 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #6,084 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #7,175 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #8,894 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #8,713 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #7,629 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #9,224 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #5,579 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #11,296 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,797 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #8,788 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Zaahir Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Zaahir's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zaahir's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.