Is Zahir a boy's or girl's name?

Zahir is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 7 recorded births.

When was Zahir most popular?

Zahir reached its peak popularity in 2023 with 346 births that year. It is currently ranked #755 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Zahir?

Zahir is currently ranked #755 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 4,417 babies since 1973.

Zahir

A familiar Arabic name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsArabicRising fast

#755▼ 1in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Arabic.

Zahir is a boy's and girl's baby name of Arabic origin, from the Arabic zahir meaning 'radiant,' 'blooming,' or 'visible.' Az-Zahir ('The Manifest') is one of the 99 beautiful names of God in Islam, making Zahir a name with profound divine resonance. It is related to the word zahra (flower).

Zahir is used widely across Arabic, Persian, and Muslim communities worldwide. The Borges short story 'The Zahir' gave it a literary mystique in Western culture — the Zahir being an object of obsession that cannot be forgotten once seen. A name of divine radiance and memorable presence.

Compare Zahir with another name

Popularity Over Time

Zahir climbed 963 spots in the last 20 years — from #1718 to #755.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Zahir
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,503	#821	▼
2010s	1,690	#1158	▲
2000s	909	#1602	▲
1990s	230	#3758	▲
1980s	68	#5579	▲
1970s	17	#4177	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(46 years, 1973–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Zahir
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	339	#755	-7 (-2.0%)
2023	346	#754	+58 (20.1%)
2022	288	#847	+12 (4.3%)
2021	276	#853	+22 (8.7%)
2020	254	#894	+22 (9.5%)
2019	232	#937	+19 (8.9%)
2018	213	#978	-3 (-1.4%)
2017	216	#964	+38 (21.3%)
2016	178	#1104	+25 (16.3%)
2015	153	#1209	-19 (-11.0%)
2014	172	#1116	+35 (25.5%)
2013	137	#1276	+1 (0.7%)
2012	136	#1292	+22 (19.3%)
2011	114	#1446	-25 (-18.0%)
2010	139	#1262	+20 (16.8%)
2009	119	#1424	+3 (2.6%)
2008	116	#1440	-23 (-16.5%)
2007	139	#1271	+31 (28.7%)
2006	108	#1446	+13 (13.7%)
2005	95	#1513	+20 (26.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Zahir as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Zahir has also been given to 7 girls in the U.S. since 2007.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

2007

Peak year

Compare Zahir as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Zahir be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Zahir is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #755. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1973–2024) · Methodology