Bahar
Of Arabic origin, a feminine name meaning "spring" or "bloom".
Name Census estimates that about 564 living Americans carry the first name Bahar. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bahar today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bahar births was 2024 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bahar. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
564
~ 1 in 607,720 Americans
Peak year
2024
35 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,118
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Bahar: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bahar from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 178 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Bahar remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bahar by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bahar during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Bahars live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Virginia recorded the most babies named Bahar, while Virginia, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 38 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bahar
The name Bahar is of Persian origin, derived from the Persian word "bahar" which means "spring" or "bloom." It is a popular name in countries with significant Persian cultural influence, such as Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.
The name's roots can be traced back to ancient Persia, where the arrival of spring was celebrated with great joy and festivities. The concept of renewal, growth, and beauty associated with the blooming of flowers and the greening of nature was deeply woven into Persian culture and mythology.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Bahar can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet Hafez (c. 1315-1390 CE). In his lyrical verses, he often used the imagery of spring and blooming flowers as metaphors for love, beauty, and the divine.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bahar. For instance, Bahar al-Mulk (1858-1951) was an influential Iranian princess and activist who played a significant role in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran. Another prominent figure was Bahar Mustafa Pasha (1638-1701), an Ottoman statesman and grand vizier who served during the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV.
In the realm of literature, Bahar Begum (1914-2008) was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan, renowned for her contributions to the Progressive Writers' Movement. Bahar Dutt (born 1971) is an accomplished Indian journalist and environmental reporter, known for her coverage of climate change and conservation issues.
The name Bahar also found its way into the world of music. Bahar Suminski (born 1965) is a renowned Turkish singer and composer, renowned for her innovative fusion of traditional Turkish music with contemporary genres. Bahar Khudoyor (born 1991) is a popular Uzbek singer and actress, celebrated for her powerful vocals and stage presence.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Bahar throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and cultures. The name's enduring appeal lies in its connection to the beauty and renewal of nature, making it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with deep cultural significance and poetic resonance.
People
Bahar + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bahar as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bahar: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bahar?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 564 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bahar going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 607,720 US residents.
Is Bahar a common name?
We classify Bahar as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 575 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bahar most popular?
The single biggest year for Bahar was 2024, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bahar is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Bahar a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bahar in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.