wahid

Wahid is a masculine given name and, in some cases, a surname used in various Muslim-majority communities. It derives from the Arabic root w-h-d, meaning “one,” “oneness,” or “unity.” In Islamic thought, Al-Wahid is one of the 99 names of Allah, representing divine unity. As a personal name, Wahid is found across the Arab world, the wider Muslim world, and in diaspora communities, with transliterations such as Wahid, Waheed, or Wahidah in different languages and cultures.

The name is typically masculine, though in some Arabic- or Urdu-speaking contexts Wahida or Wahidah may appear as a feminine form. Its usage spans many countries and languages, and it is often chosen to convey notions of uniqueness or singularity in a family or personal name.

Notable individuals include Abdurrahman Wahid (1940–2009), an Indonesian religious scholar and politician who served as the country’s president from 1999 to 2001. Commonly known as Gus Dur, he was a prominent figure in the Nahdlatul Ulama and is remembered for promoting pluralism and religious tolerance.

Beyond Indonesia, Wahid appears as a given name or part of a compound name in various Muslim-majority regions, reflecting the broad cultural reach of Arabic-origin naming traditions.

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