Sahir

Written in Arabic and Urdu as ساحر — which translates to Sahir in English — this name can mean "charming," "enchanting," or "magical", alluding not to charisma, but to sorcery. Some sources also say it means "wakeful" in Urdu.

This name Sahir has not seen much use in the United States yet, though its popularity does seem to be on the rise — possibly due, at least in part, to the recent visibility of Puerto Rican hip-hop artist Sahir. Traditionally, the name has been used mostly in countries with a strong Muslim population, and is also used in India and Pakistan. According to the most recent available data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, fewer than 40 boys were given the name Sahir in the last year. This is a strongly masculine name, but nearly 20 girls were given its female version — Sahira. So, at least if you're in the United States, Sahir is still a rare gem of a baby name, meaning your son won't run into someone else who shares his name everywhere he goes.

In terms of other places it's used, the name Sahir first became popular in the Indian subcontinent in the early 20th century. This was due in part to the work of poet and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, one of the most influential figures in Urdu literature. Ludhianvi's poems and songs were known for their wit, passion, and social commentary, and helped popularize the name.

Some notable bearers of the name Sahir — besides the up-and-coming hip-hop artist mentioned earlier and poet Ludhianvi — include Indian singer/songwriter Sahir Ali Bagga; Pakistani cricketer Sahir Khan; and actors Sahir Mehta and Sahir Rasheed.