Sarah Shahi's Real Name: Aahoo Jahansouzshahi
Sarah Shahi → Aahoo Jahansouzshahi
Quick answer: Sarah Shahi's birth name is Aahoo Jahansouzshahi. She was born on January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas, and works professionally as Sarah Shahi.
Real name and early life
Major film biographies record birth name Aahoo Jahansouzshahi, born January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas. She is of Iranian descent on her father's side and Spanish on her mother's; Sarah Shahi is the professional name she has used in Hollywood. Before acting she worked as a model and as a cheerleader for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Shahi is a shortened form drawn from her longer Persian family surname; Aahoo is her given birth name.
Quick facts
- Real name: Aahoo Jahansouzshahi
- Known as: Sarah Shahi
- Born: January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas
- Known for: Actor
- Notable work: The L Word, Person of Interest, Sex/Life, Black Adam
- Sources checked: Major film biographies; Wikipedia pointer
Career highlights
Shahi appeared on The L Word, had a recurring role on Alias, and starred in Life and Person of Interest. Later work includes Netflix's Sex/Life and the film Black Adam (2022). She has balanced network television, cable, and streaming roles while billing as Sarah Shahi. Interviews and database birth-name fields retain Aahoo Jahansouzshahi as the underlying legal birth form.
Name notes
Sarah Shahi is a professional name; Aahoo Jahansouzshahi is the birth name documented in film biographies. Spellings of the Persian surname can vary slightly in English transliteration—Jahansouzshahi is the form widely used in entertainment databases. Prefer those over unofficial shortenings that invent different given names.
Streaming leads expanded her audience beyond earlier cable dramas; entertainment databases that list Aahoo Jahansouzshahi as the birth name are the basis for this page's quick answer.
Iranian American representation in network and streaming casts is a frequent interview topic; name explainers should still open with Aahoo Jahansouzshahi before Sarah Shahi.
Action and drama pilots in the 2000s preceded the streaming-era leads that brought new audiences to the Sarah Shahi billing.
FAQ
What is Sarah Shahi's real name?
Aahoo Jahansouzshahi (professionally Sarah Shahi).
When and where was she born?
January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas.
Is Sarah Shahi a stage name?
Yes—in the sense that she adopted Sarah Shahi for her career; Aahoo is her birth given name.
Early non-acting job?
Dallas Mavericks cheerleader and modeling work.
Notable TV credits?
*The L Word*, *Person of Interest*, *Sex/Life*, among others.