Boy · #10,806 in 2026

Jehad

Jihad is an Arabic word that means 'exerting', 'striving', or 'struggling', particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God's guidance, such as an internal struggle against evil in oneself, efforts to build a good Muslim community (ummah), and struggle to defend Islam.

Current Rank
#10,806
Peak Rank
#4,020 (1993)
Total Babies
175
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1979
First Year
2011
Last Year
1993
Peak Year
#4020
Peak Rank
175
Total Count
24
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Jehad

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Jihad is an Arabic word that means 'exerting', 'striving', or 'struggling', particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God's guidance, such as an internal struggle against evil in oneself, efforts to build a good Muslim community (ummah), and struggle to defend Islam.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
See also: List of expeditions of Muhammad In pre-Islamic Arabia, Bedouins raided enemy tribes and settlements to collect spoils. According to some scholars (such as James Turner Johnson), while Islamic leaders "instilled into the hearts of the warriors the belief" in jihad "holy war" and ghaza (raids), the "fundamental structure" of this Bedouin warfare "remained, ... raiding to collect booty". According to Jonathan Berkey , the Qur'an's statements in support of jihad may have originally been directed against Muhammad's local enemies, the pagans of Mecca or the Jews of Medina, but these same s

The Story of Jehad

Jehad first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1979, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1993, when 15 Jehads were born — ranking #4,020 that year. As of 2026, Jehad ranks #10,806 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 175 Jehads have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
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OH
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Jehad

Phonetically similar names — useful when Jehad is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Jehad

What does the name Jehad mean?
Jihad is an Arabic word that means 'exerting', 'striving', or 'struggling', particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God's guidance, such as an internal struggle against evil in oneself, efforts to build a good Muslim community (ummah), and struggle to defend Islam.
How popular is Jehad in 2026?
In 2026, Jehad ranks #10,806 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Jehad most popular?
Jehad reached its peak popularity in 1993, ranking #4,020 that year with 15 babies given the name.
Is Jehad a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Jehad is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Jehad?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Jehad include Kreig, Johnaton, Urian. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Kreig
Peak #4020
👦
Johnaton
Peak #4020
👦
Urian
Peak #4020
👦
Martese
Peak #4020
👦
Jonta
Peak #4020
👦
Javarus
Peak #4020
👦
Jabre
Peak #4020
👦
Traye
Peak #4020

About the name Jehad

Jehad is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 175 births in the dataset. Jehad's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #4,020. Use the chart and map above to compare Jehad's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.