Mahmoud
Meaningpraised · Arabic
Mahmoud is an Arabic boy name meaning “praised”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Mahmoud would score 15 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationMahmoud peaked in 1995, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Mahmoud you'd meet today is about 30 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Mahmoud would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 26,667 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMahmoud first shows up in US birth records in 1968, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 57 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Mahmouds? Head to New Jersey, where it's the #915 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1968–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Mahmoud
Mahmoud is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “praised”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 1990s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Mahmoud
What does the name Mahmoud mean?
Mahmoud means “praised” and comes from Arabic. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Jude (“praised”), Judah (“praised”), Muhammad (“praised”) and Mohamed (“praised”).
What is the origin of the name Mahmoud?
Mahmoud is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Mahmoud a boy or girl name?
Mahmoud is a boy name. In 2025, 64 US boys were named Mahmoud.
How popular is the name Mahmoud?
Mahmoud ranked #2,207 for US boys in 2025, given to 64 babies. Its best year was 1995, when it reached #1,300. Over the last five years it has climbed 212 places.
What names are similar to Mahmoud?
If you like Mahmoud, you might also like Jude, Judah, Muhammad and Mohamed.
What should I know before naming my baby Mahmoud?
Mahmoud is an Arabic boy name meaning “praised”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.