Ahmad Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ahmad is an Arabic name meaning 'highly praised' or 'one who constantly thanks God'. Its roots trace back to the Arabic language, evolving through various historical forms. The name carries positive traits and is linked to significant religious contexts, especially in Islam. While it lacks biblical relevance, it has been widely used in Muslim cultures since the 7th century and remains popular today.
The name Ahmad is most popular in New Jersey, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ahmad has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ahmad' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2956th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 807th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 588th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 488th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 614th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 13742nd out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Ahmad' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ahmad"
Pronunciation
/ɑːˈhæd/
Origin
Arabic
Etymology
The name Ahmad is derived from the Arabic root ḥ-m-d, which means 'to thank' or 'to praise'. It is often interpreted as 'highly praised' or 'one who constantly thanks God'.
Meaning
highly praised, one who constantly thanks God
Language Evolution
Ahmad, Muhammad, Mahmud
Historical Usage
The name Ahmad gained popularity primarily due to its association with the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who is sometimes referred to as Ahmad in Islamic texts. It has been widely used in Muslim communities since the 7th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Ahmed, Mahmud, Hamid
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Ahmad is a popular name in many Muslim-majority countries and communities worldwide. It is often perceived as a name of honor and respect, reflecting positive traits.
Famous People
Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ahmad Shah Durrani, Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud
Explore More Ahmad Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ahmad"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ahmad"
"Ahmad" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2956th of 7552 | 148 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 807th of 10718 | 1,637 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 588th of 16616 | 4,450 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 488th of 24088 | 8,299 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 614th of 23106 | 5,402 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 13742nd of 19264 | 18 |
Regional Popularity of "Ahmad" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
57.49% 1397th/2430 |
- |
56.97% 1581st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
25.26% 742nd/2937 |
17.54% 611th/3483 |
21.46% 755th/3518 |
21.02% 850th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.95% 514th/3685 |
9.63% 431st/4475 |
11.46% 595th/5194 |
11.19% 707th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.02% 459th/4582 |
7.32% 378th/5164 |
6.29% 460th/7313 |
9.74% 727th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.41% 574th/3984 |
10.61% 476th/4487 |
8.34% 569th/6822 |
13.40% 841st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ahmad" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ahmad"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ahmad" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.