Waheed

Waheed is an alternate transcription of the Arabic وحيد (Waḥīd) or Urdu وحید (see Wahid). The root name Wahid (also spelled Vahid or Vahit in other languages) means “peerless, unique” in Arabic. In Islamic tradition, al-Waḥīd (الوحيد) is one of the 99 names of Allah, emphasizing His oneness and uniqueness. The name is common in Arabic-speaking countries as well as in Urdu-speaking regions such as Pakistan and India.

Notable Bearers

Many notable figures have carried this name or its variants. Waheed Murad (1938–1983) was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer, and writer, known as the “Chocolate Hero” of Lollywood. Waheed Akhtar (1934–1996) was an influential Urdu poet and philosopher. Wahid Hasyim (1914–1953) served as Indonesia’s first Minister of Religious Affairs and was a prominent Islamic scholar. Waheed Arian (born 1983) is a British doctor and radiologist who fled Afghanistan as a child and later founded a telemedicine charity. In politics, Mohamed Waheed Hassan (born 1953) was the President of the Maldives from 2012 to 2013. The name also appears in Persian as Vahid, Turkish as Vahit, and in feminine forms such as Waheeda and Wahida.

Cultural and Religious Context

The meaning “the One” or “absolute One” connects deeply to Islamic theology, where monotheism (tawḥīd) is a core concept. Al-Waḥīd is a divine attribute denoting God’s uniqueness without partner or equal. This makes the name popular among Muslims as a given name, reflecting devotion to central beliefs.

• Meaning: "peerless, unique"; as a divine name, "the One"
• Arabic and Urdu origin
• Type: Masculine
• Usage regions: Arab world, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Turkey (as Vahit)