Zaire
Every Zaire since 1974 — 10,897 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Zaire
Zaire is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #503 in 2025 with 601 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1974, 10,897 American babies have been named Zaire — about 87% boys and 13% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 674 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Zaire stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Zaire year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | #13,156 | 601 | #503 |
| 2024 | 13 | #8,427 | 655 | #471 |
| 2023 | 19 | #6,401 | 655 | #466 |
| 2022 | 12 | #9,046 | 615 | #496 |
| 2021 | 16 | #7,245 | 557 | #529 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8,938 | 542 | #528 |
| 2019 | 22 | #5,789 | 498 | #561 |
| 2018 | 17 | #7,094 | 389 | #657 |
| 2017 | 33 | #4,382 | 317 | #747 |
| 2016 | 23 | #5,786 | 305 | #781 |
| 2015 | 23 | #5,823 | 254 | #879 |
| 2014 | 39 | #3,922 | 238 | #905 |
| 2013 | 44 | #3,571 | 220 | #930 |
| 2012 | 42 | #3,779 | 209 | #967 |
| 2011 | 33 | #4,463 | 224 | #905 |
| 2010 | 49 | #3,358 | 222 | #913 |
| 2009 | 48 | #3,457 | 238 | #887 |
| 2008 | 58 | #3,015 | 257 | #845 |
| 2007 | 57 | #3,095 | 268 | #803 |
| 2006 | 59 | #2,939 | 248 | #821 |
| 2005 | 42 | #3,585 | 211 | #873 |
| 2004 | 57 | #2,849 | 173 | #970 |
| 2003 | 47 | #3,185 | 205 | #848 |
| 2002 | 54 | #2,817 | 182 | #894 |
| 2001 | 60 | #2,570 | 140 | #1,048 |
| 2000 | 83 | #2,015 | 203 | #798 |
| 1995 | 50 | #2,549 | 63 | #1,526 |
| 1990 | 10 | #8,493 | 19 | #3,308 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 5 | #7,286 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,979 | 17 | #2,539 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Zaire in 2025?
Zaire ranked #503 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 601 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Zaire?
10,897 babies have been named Zaire in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Zaire most popular?
Zaire peaked in 2023, when 674 newborns received the name.
Is Zaire a boy or girl name?
Zaire is used for both: about 13% of babies named Zaire have been girls and 87% boys.
Is the name Zaire rising or falling?
Zaire is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.