Zaire
Boy name · #503 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Zaire? In official American birth records, Zaire has been tracked continuously since 1974, giving it 51 years of documented American history.
Zaire ranks #503 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 601 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #873, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,995 boys born in 2025 was named Zaire.
The 51-year story
Zaire first appears in the Social Security records in 1974, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 655 babies and a rank of #466. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Zaire per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zaire against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zaire in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Zaire is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Zaire is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zaire is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Zaire is most common in MS (1.3 per 1,000), GA (1.1 per 1,000), CT (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.7 per 1,000), MA (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Zaire is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Zaire
Statistically, parents drawn to Zaire tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zyaire, Zayne, Jaire, Sire, and Ridge.
ZyaireZayneJaireSireRidgeJyaireSyaireSincere
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zaire | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 601 | #503 |
| 2024 | 655 | #470 |
| 2023 | 655 | #466 |
| 2022 | 615 | #496 |
| 2021 | 557 | #529 |
| 2020 | 542 | #526 |
| 2019 | 498 | #560 |
| 2018 | 389 | #656 |
| 2017 | 317 | #746 |
| 2016 | 305 | #779 |
| 2015 | 254 | #873 |
| 2014 | 238 | #904 |
| 2013 | 220 | #927 |
| 2012 | 209 | #962 |
| 2011 | 224 | #904 |
| 2010 | 222 | #910 |
| 2009 | 238 | #883 |
| 2008 | 257 | #845 |
| 2007 | 268 | #801 |
| 2006 | 248 | #819 |
| 2005 | 211 | #870 |
| 2004 | 173 | #967 |
| 2003 | 205 | #845 |
| 2002 | 182 | #891 |
| 2001 | 140 | #1045 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Zaire?
In official American birth records, the name Zaire first appeared in 1974 (over 51 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 51 years.
Is Zaire a popular boy name?
Zaire ranked #503 among boys in 2025 with 601 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #873.
When was the name Zaire most popular?
Zaire peaked in 2023, when 655 American boys received the name (ranked #466 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Zaire?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,995 newborn American boys was named Zaire. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.