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Sahar
Pronounced sah-HAR /sɑˈhɑr/High
Meaning: Dawn, the time just before sunrise; from Arabic sahar, beloved in Persian and Urdu as wellHigh
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
Sahar is the Arabic word for the last part of the night, just before dawn breaks — a time classical poets prized for its stillness and prayer. The name traveled with the word into Persian, Urdu, and Turkish naming, and is also used in modern Hebrew (where a separate Shahar means 'dawn').
Iranian, Arab, and South Asian families carried Sahar to the U.S., where it remains rare and pleasingly easy to say. It sits in the same dawn-lit family as Aurora and Roxana — different language, same first light.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Sahar Hashemi (1968-)British entrepreneur who co-founded the Coffee Republic chain
- ★Sahar Biniaz (1987-)Iranian-born Canadian model who won Miss Universe Canada 2012
- ★Sahar Tabar (2001-)Iranian social media influencer
- ★Sahar JahaniAmerican television writer and producer
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Sahar mean?
Sahar is Arabic for 'dawn' — specifically the quiet hour just before sunrise — and is loved across Persian and Urdu naming too.
How do you pronounce Sahar?
It's said sah-HAR /sɑˈhɑr/ — two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Sahar a boy or girl name?
Sahar is mainly a girl's name in modern use.
How popular is Sahar?
Sahar is a rare name in the U.S., familiar across the Middle East and South Asia.