Baby Name Popularity Profile

Zaire

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Zaire.

✦ River 🌍 Other nature
National Rank (2025) #503
All-Time Peak Rank #466 Achieved 2023
Total U.S. Births 9,465 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 92.0% Boy / 8.0% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1974 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2020s 655 births in 2023
💡 The Zaire Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning River
Language Origin Other
Origin Type single
Derived from the Portuguese corruption of the Kikongo word 'nzadi' or 'nzere', meaning 'river'. It refers to the historical name of the Congo River and a former country.
Pronunciation: ZAH-eer
Themes & Categories
nature
Etymology confidence: Medium

📖 The Story Behind Zaire

According to SSA data, Zaire achieved its highest historical rank of #466 in 2023. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2023 with 655 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 136.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 38 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Zaire across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +136.6% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 655 births in 2023
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 3 yrs
Registry Streak 38 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 0
1960s: 0
1970s: 63
1980s: 44
1990s: 732
2000s: 2,125
2010s: 2,876
2020s: 3,625

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Za-ie
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with Z, a letter used by only 2.1% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Zaire.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Georgia
Top States Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, Virginia
States with Data 35
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Georgia #222 659 2021 +1.8% Growth
New Jersey #761 616 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #388 270 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #372 598 2024 +47.2% Growth
Virginia #495 330 2022 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #458 410 2024 Insufficient historical volume
New York #418 1,086 2020 12.5% Decline
District of Columbia Unranked 59 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #601 42 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #790 653 1999 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #436 175 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #325 122 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #567 379 2024 43.3% Decline
California #600 765 2021 +25.0% Growth
Texas #509 570 2023 +55.8% Growth
Michigan #600 247 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #632 76 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #649 261 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #374 96 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #409 109 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #411 115 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #334 118 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #522 92 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #238 55 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #558 95 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #483 72 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #633 30 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #736 40 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #679 29 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky Unranked 39 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas Unranked 18 2007 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #638 31 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #706 11 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma Unranked 12 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 5 2024 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Lucca Moshe Jasai Sylas Yusuf Soren Kyson Royal Makai Rowen
👧 Sister Suggestions
Salem Maren Capri Kyomi Sevyn Noemi Lylah Chaya Reyna Winter

🔗 Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with Zaire:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Zayne Zakai Zidane Zymere Moshe Louie Zahir Zamir Zymir Ziare
More nature Names
Browse all nature names → Browse Other names →

🗂️ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks:

👦 Top Boy Names → 2-Syllable Names → 5-Letter Names → More Rising Star Names → Other Origin Names → nature Names → Names Peaking in 2023 → 🗺️ Regional State Data →