Mahad is an attractive and unique given name of Somali origin, meaning 'to protect' in Arabic. It gained popularity globally due to its connection with the historic city of Mahdiya, founded by Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi in Somalia during the 16th century. The name has since been adopted by various cultures worldwide, contributing to its growing recognition and appeal as a modern unisex choice.
The name Mahad has seen fluctuating popularity over the years, with a significant increase in usage since around 1998. Between 1990 and 1997, there were consistently fewer than 10 babies named Mahad each year. However, starting from 1998, the number of births with this name began to rise steadily, reaching its peak in 2017 with 42 births. Since then, it has remained relatively popular, with at least 20 births each year up until 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 762 babies named Mahad between 1990 and 2023.