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Maher
♂ Boy
Pronounced MAH-hair /ˈmɑ.hɛr/Medium
Meaning: From Arabic mahir, 'skilled, proficient' — the craftsman's complimentHigh
In 30 seconds: Competence, certified: Maher is Arabic 'adept' — Quran-reciter Maher Zain sings it, talk-show Bill begs different roots. Skill on file.
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Origin HighArabic
MeaningFrom Arabic mahir, 'skilled, proficient' — the craftsman's compliment
U.S. rank (2025)#2741 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births47 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,156
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Maher comes from Arabic mahir, 'skilled, adept' — Levantine standard (singer Maher Zain), with an unrelated Irish surname twin.
In the U.S. it appears in Arab families. Rare, skilled at the root, and credentialed.
Did you know? Maher Zain's nasheeds stream by the hundred-million — 'the skilled one' singing for the title; the Irish surname Maher (O'Meachair) shares only letters.
Overall data confidence 82%
Arabic references — mahir — etymology
Variations
MahirMahar
Nicknames
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Famous Bearers
- ★Maher Zain (1981–present)Swedish-Lebanese Islamic music star.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Maher mean?
Maher is Arabic for 'skilled, proficient'.
How do you pronounce Maher?
It's said MAH-hair /ˈmɑ.hɛr/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Maher a boy or girl name?
Maher is a boy's name.
How popular is Maher?
Maher is a rare name in the U.S.