shahid

Shahid is a male given name of Arabic origin, commonly meaning "witness" or "martyr." It comes from the root sh-h-d, related to testimony and observation. In Islamic religious language, shahid also denotes a person who dies as a martyr in the path of God. The name has spread beyond Arabic-speaking communities through Islam and Persianate naming traditions, and it is widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Southeast Asia. Variants in spelling include Shaheed, Shahed, and Shahid, reflecting different transliterations from Arabic and local languages.

As a given name, Shahid is widely used across cultures and languages, and it is less commonly found as a surname. In contemporary usage, it appears in literature, film, sports, and public life as a personal name. The name’s meaning and religious resonance influence its popularity in many Muslim-majority regions, though individuals bearing the name come from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Notable people named Shahid include Shahid Kapoor, an Indian actor; Shahid Afridi, a Pakistani cricketer; and Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American businessman and sports owner. The name also appears among public figures in other South Asian and Muslim-majority communities, reflecting its broad cultural reach.