Mahdi
A boy's name of Arabic origin with 2,294 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A leader who, according to Sunni eschatology, will appear and restore peace and justice before the end of the world. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Mahdi is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin meaning 'guided by God' or 'the guided one,' from the Arabic hada (to guide). In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer who will appear before the Day of Judgment to establish justice — making this one of Islam's most spiritually significant names.
Mahdi carries profound theological weight in both Sunni and Shia Islam. For Muslim families, giving a son this name expresses deep faith and the hope that he will be guided rightly through life. A name of divine guidance and messianic expectation.
EtymologyShow more
Mahdi is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Arabic naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Mahdi creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Mahdi climbed 198 spots in the last 20 years — from #1798 to #1600.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 403 | #1949 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 824 | #1827 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 634 | #1995 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 271 | #2983 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 124 | #3839 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 33 | #5113 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | #4355 | — |
The Story of Mahdi
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2024, Mahdi is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Mahdi are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Mahdi?
Only about 1 in every 33,645 babies born in 2024 was named Mahdi — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1959, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 824 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Mahdi by the numbers
- Would fill 48 school buses
- Meeting one Mahdi per day would take 6.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(51 years, 1959–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 107 | #1600 |
| 2023 | 86 | #1858 |
| 2022 | 79 | #1960 |
| 2021 | 67 | #2148 |
| 2020 | 64 | #2180 |
| 2019 | 82 | #1843 |
| 2018 | 74 | #1988 |
| 2017 | 88 | #1759 |
| 2016 | 70 | #2035 |
| 2015 | 98 | #1635 |
| 2014 | 72 | #1990 |
| 2013 | 93 | #1640 |
| 2012 | 79 | #1856 |
| 2011 | 84 | #1752 |
| 2010 | 84 | #1773 |
| 2009 | 66 | #2086 |
| 2008 | 78 | #1869 |
| 2007 | 81 | #1807 |
| 2006 | 68 | #1983 |
| 2005 | 70 | #1851 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahdi a boy's or girl's name?
When was Mahdi most popular?
How popular is the name Mahdi?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1959–2024