Boy · Arabic · Muslim
Zaheer
ظہیرSay it za-HEER
- Meaning today
- Supporter, helper, bright
- Original meaning
- "an aider, assistant, supporter" Lane, p. 1929
- Say it
- za-HEER
- Written
- ظہیر
- Other spellings
- Zahir
Zaheer
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Zaheer meaning
Zaheer (ظہیر) is a Muslim boy's name of Arabic origin.
An aider, assistant, supporter
Also used to mean: helper, bright
Zaheer (ظہیر) is the Arabic ẓahīr, from ẓahr, "back": a helper is one who backs you. Lane's lexicon defines ẓahīr as an aider or assistant, a word that can also stand for several helpers. The Quran uses it in the challenge that even if men and jinn "were helpers to one another" they could not produce its like (17:88). Some name lists give "bright" or "shining", which seem to come from the similar-sounding root z-h-r. The first Mughal emperor Babur was named Zahir-ud-din, "helper of the faith", and the fast bowler Zaheer Khan is a well-known modern bearer.
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), Book I, Part 5, p. 1929 · entry ẓahīr (ظَهِيرٌ), root ẓ-h-r · See the entry
In the Quran: 17:88 (ẓahīran (ظَهِيرًا)) · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, Arabic–English Lexicon, ẓahīr, Book I p. 1929 · Quran 17:88 · Wikipedia, Babur · Wikipedia, Zaheer Khan
Famous namesakes
- Babur (Zahir-ud-din Muhammad), founder of the Mughal empire
- Zaheer Khan, Indian cricketer
Spellings
Zaheer · Zahir