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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Rahim

Rahim

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced rah-HEEM /rΙ‘ΛΛˆhiːm/High

Meaning: Merciful or compassionate; from the Arabic root rahima meaning to have mercy or show compassion, one of the 99 names of Allah in Islamic traditionHigh

In 30 seconds: Rahim is a deeply reverent Arabic name meaning merciful or compassionate, drawn from one of the 99 names of Allah in Islamic tradition. It is beloved across the Muslim world from Morocco to Indonesia.
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Origin HighArabic
MeaningMerciful or compassionate; from the Arabic root rahima meaning to have mercy or show compassion, one of the 99 names of Allah in Islamic tradition
U.S. rank (2025)#2178 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births66 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 1,905

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 202519672025

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

Rahim is from the Arabic root rahima, meaning to show mercy or compassion. Al-Rahim (the Most Merciful) is one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam, giving this name profound theological significance. The root also gives the Arabic word rahm, meaning womb, linking mercy to nurturing love.

As a given name, Rahim has been used across the Islamic world for more than a thousand years. It is common in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Bengali, and Malay-speaking communities. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, it often appears in compound names such as Abdur Rahim (servant of the Merciful).

Did you know? The phrase Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim β€” In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful β€” opens 113 of the 114 suras of the Quran, making Rahim one of the most-heard Arabic words on Earth.
Overall data confidence 96%
Behind the Name β€” Rahim β€” Arabic etymology and Islamic usage99 Names of Allah β€” Al-Rahim β€” Quranic theological significance

Variations

Abdur RahimRaheemAr-Rahim

Nicknames

Rahi

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Rahim Moore (1990-)
    American football safety who played in the NFL
  • β˜…Rahim AlHaj
    Iraqi-American oud virtuoso and composer
  • β˜…Rahim Jaffer
    Canadian politician and former Member of Parliament
  • β˜…Rahim Razali
    Malaysian actor, director and producer

If you like Rahim…

Khalilβ€” same classical Arabic two-syllable elegance
Kareemβ€” fellow Arabic boys name meaning generous with same divine-attribute tradition
Imanβ€” shares the deeply Islamic spiritual naming tradition
Amirβ€” same well-traveled Arabic name with royal and religious associations

Explore names like Rahim

By themearabictwo-syllableislamicspiritual
By meaningGentle / Kind

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rahim mean?

Rahim means merciful or compassionate in Arabic, derived from the root rahima meaning to show mercy.

How do you pronounce Rahim?

It is said rah-HEEM, two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Rahim a boy or girl name?

Rahim is used almost exclusively as a boys name across Muslim communities worldwide.

How popular is Rahim?

Rahim is very common throughout the Muslim world and is occasionally used in Muslim families in Western countries.

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