Means 'the anointed one' or 'Messiah' in Arabic and Persian.
Masih (مسیح) is an ancient name of profound theological weight, derived from the Aramaic word meaning "the anointed one." It is the Arabic and Persian equivalent of the Hebrew Mashiach and the Greek Christos — all three words describing the sacred act of anointing a chosen figure with oil as a mark of divine election. In Islamic tradition, Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) is honored as one of the greatest prophets, and the name carries that reverence wherever it travels across the Muslim world, from Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan and beyond.
Historically, Masih has been borne by scholars, poets, and mystics throughout the Persian-speaking world. The nineteenth-century Bahá'í founder Mírzá Husayn-Alí Nuri, better known as Bahá'u'lláh, wrote extensively about the concept of the Masih in his theological works, embedding the name still deeper into the spiritual consciousness of the region. In Iran particularly, the name remains a quiet but resonant choice for families wishing to honor their spiritual heritage.
In the twenty-first century, Masih has gained visibility in Western contexts largely through Masih Alinejad, the courageous Iranian journalist and activist whose campaigns against compulsory hijab laws brought global attention to women's rights in Iran. Her prominence has introduced the name to new audiences, adding a contemporary association with courage and moral clarity to its already luminous spiritual lineage.