ظاهر

Zahir

boyArabic

Zahir is a Muslim boy name meaning “Manifest, evident; also bright, shining”.

MeaningManifest, evident; also bright, shining
GenderBoy
OriginArabic
Arabic spellingظاهر
PronunciationZAH-heer
Arabic rootظ ه ر (ẓ-h-r) — to appear, to be evident
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Zahir

Zahir most often represents Arabic Ẓāhir, 'apparent, manifest', and al-Ẓāhir is one of the Beautiful Names of God, which is why the devotional form ʿAbd al-Ẓāhir also exists. A separate Arabic name, Zāhir (زاهر), means 'shining, blooming', and in English both are spelled the same. Bearers include Muhammad Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan, and the Mughal founder Zahir al-Din Babur.

Is Zahir a Muslim name?

Yes. Zahir is an established Muslim name of Arabic origin, connected to al-Ẓāhir, one of the names of God, and used across the Muslim world.

Is Zahir in the Quran?

Al-Ẓāhir appears as a name of God: 'He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden' (Quran 57:3).

Where is the name Zahir used?

Widely used in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and as Zaher or Dhahir in the Arab world.

Gifts with the name Zahir

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Spellings and variants of Zahir

ZaheerDhahirZaherZahiruddin

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More boy names like Zahir

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Zahir mean?

Zahir means 'Manifest, evident; also bright, shining'. It comes from Arabic.

Is Zahir a Muslim name?

Yes. Zahir is an established Muslim name of Arabic origin, connected to al-Ẓāhir, one of the names of God, and used across the Muslim world.

How do you write Zahir in Arabic?

Zahir is written ظاهر in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Zahir?

Zahir is pronounced ZAH-heer.

Is Zahir mentioned in the Quran?

Al-Ẓāhir appears as a name of God: 'He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden' (Quran 57:3).

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.