Boy · #1,562 in 2026

Mahdi

The Mahdi is a messianic figure in Islamic belief. He is comparable to the Christian concept of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish concept of Mashiach ben David and the Zoroastrian concept of the Saoshyant. The Mahdi is said to be a descendant of Muhammad and is believed to appear at the End of Times, shortly before Jesus returns, to rid the world of evil and injustice.

Current Rank
#1,562
Peak Rank
#1,562 (2026)
Total Babies
3K
5-Yr Trend
+31%
1959
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1562
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
53
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Mahdi

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

The Mahdi is a messianic figure in Islamic belief. He is comparable to the Christian concept of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish concept of Mashiach ben David and the Zoroastrian concept of the Saoshyant. The Mahdi is said to be a descendant of Muhammad and is believed to appear at the End of Times, shortly before Jesus returns, to rid the world of evil and injustice.

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

Etymology
The term Mahdi is derived from the Arabic root h-d-y ( ه-د-ي ), commonly used to mean "divine guidance". Although the root appears in the Qur'an at multiple places and in various contexts, the word Mahdi never occurs in the book. The associated verb is hada , which means to guide. However, Mahdi can be read in active voice, where it means the one who guides, as well as passive voice, where it means the one who is guided.
Origin & history
The term al-Mahdi was employed from the beginning of Islam, but only as an honorific epithet ("the guide") and without any messianic significance. As an honorific, it was used in some instances to describe Muhammad (by Hassan ibn Thabit ), Abraham , al-Husayn, and various Umayyad caliphs ( هداة مهديون , hudat mahdiyyun ). During the Second Muslim Civil War (680–692), after the death of Mu'awiya I ( reigned</span>"}]]}'>r. 661–680 ), the term acquired a new meaning of a ruler who would restore Islam to its perfect form and restore justice after oppression. Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr , who laid cla

The Story of Mahdi

Mahdi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1959, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 112 Mahdis were born — ranking #1,562 that year. As of 2026, Mahdi ranks #1,562 for baby boys with 112 births, rising sharply (+31% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Mahdis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
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MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
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VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
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KS
AR
TN
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SC
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LA
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Top 10
11-50
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101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Mahdi

Phonetically similar names — useful when Mahdi 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 Mahdi

What does the name Mahdi mean?
The Mahdi is a messianic figure in Islamic belief. He is comparable to the Christian concept of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish concept of Mashiach ben David and the Zoroastrian concept of the Saoshyant. The Mahdi is said to be a descendant of Muhammad and is believed to appear at the End of Times, shortly before Jesus returns, to rid the world of evil and injustice.
How popular is Mahdi in 2026?
In 2026, Mahdi ranks #1,562 among boys' names in the U.S., with 112 babies given the name that year.
When was Mahdi most popular?
Mahdi reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,562 that year with 112 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Mahdi most popular?
Mahdi has historically been most popular in Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Mahdi.
Is Mahdi a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Mahdi is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Mahdi?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Mahdi include Adair, Antoni, Toan. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Adair
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Antoni
Peak #1562
👦
Toan
Peak #1562
👦
Rosaire
Peak #1561
👦
Itzae
Peak #1563
👦
Doroteo
Peak #1564
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Ubaldo
Peak #1560
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Winferd
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About the name Mahdi

Mahdi is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1959 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Mahdi's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,562. Use the chart and map above to compare Mahdi'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.