Explore the Family Name Mahdi
The meaning of Mahdi
Muslim: from a personal name based on Arabic mahdī ‘guided’. This is the attribute (title) of the twelfth (i.e. the last) imam of the Shiites, Muhammad ibn Hasan, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in 939, giving rise to a belief that he will return and unite Muslims under his leadership, triumphing over injustice. Compare Madi 1 and Mehdi. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Syed, Ahmed, Mohamed, Muhammad, Mustafa, Talal, Abdal, Abdullahi, Ahmad, Akil, Alawi, Barakat.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mahdi in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Mahdi has grown in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Mahdi was the 32,202nd most common surname, but by 2010, it had moved up to the 21,157th rank, marking a significant change of 34.3%. The count of people with the Mahdi surname also saw a notable increase over these years, rising from 675 in 2000 to 1,241 in 2010, an increase of nearly 84%. The proportion of individuals bearing this surname per 100,000 people also increased by 68%, from 0.25 to 0.42.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,202 | #21,157 | 34.3% |
| Count | 675 | 1,241 | 83.85% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.42 | 68% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mahdi
The ethnicity distribution of the Mahdi surname, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, reveals a diverse ethnic identity landscape. In 2000, the largest percentage of individuals with the Mahdi surname identified as Black (49.48%), followed by White (26.67%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (10.67%). However, by 2010, the proportion of those identifying as White had risen significantly, up to 39.16%, while the proportion of those identifying as Black decreased to 39.73%. There was also a small increase in the number of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, which rose to 11.20%. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying with two or more races saw a considerable decrease, down to 7.25% from 10.96%. Notably, there were no individuals with the Mahdi surname who identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 49.48% | 39.73% | -19.7% |
| White | 26.67% | 39.16% | 46.83% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 10.67% | 11.2% | 4.97% |
| Two or More Races | 10.96% | 7.25% | -33.85% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |