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Zahir

Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Zahir: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 2024.

The name Zahir has its roots in Arabic, where it means "shining," "luminous," or "apparent" – a name that evokes clarity and brilliance. Perhaps the most famous bearer was Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan, who reigned for four decades and was remembered as a unifying figure. While there is no prominent place directly named after Zahir, the name gained a fascinating literary association through Jorge Luis Borges’ short story "The Zahir," where it refers to an ordinary object that becomes an obsessive, unforgettable fixation. In Scotland, Zahir has been a rare but quietly growing choice since the 1990s, reflecting the country’s increasingly diverse naming landscape. A close variant, Zahira, is the feminine form, carrying the same luminous meaning.