Find out how popular the first name Cairo has been for the last 45 years (from 1979 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cairo by gender

Based on the last 45 years of data, Cairo is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Cairo being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,003 male babies and 47 female babies born with the name Cairo.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 47 baby girls were named Cairo in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Cairo

The name Cairo has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "al-Qahirah", which means "the Victorious" or "the Conqueror". The name is closely associated with the city of Cairo, the capital of Egypt, which was founded in the 10th century AD.

The name Cairo is believed to have first appeared in historical records around the time of the founding of the city. It was given to the city by its founder, the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah, who established his capital there in 969 AD. The name was chosen to reflect the city's strategic location and the Fatimid dynasty's military conquests.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Cairo for a person can be found in the 12th century. Cairo ibn Shuaib, a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer, lived in the late 12th century and made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and spherical geometry.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Cairo. One of the most famous was Cairo Emanuele, an Italian mathematician and engineer who lived in the 17th century (1639-1715). He was known for his work on hydraulics and was involved in the construction of several important engineering projects in Italy.

Another prominent figure was Cairo Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru in the 16th century (c. 1508-1538). He played a crucial role in the capture and execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and was later executed himself for his role in a rebellion against the Spanish crown.

In the 20th century, Cairo Camposano was a Filipino poet and writer who lived from 1909 to 1994. He was known for his contributions to the development of modern Filipino literature and was recognized with several prestigious literary awards.

Cairo Govathov was a Bulgarian wrestler who competed in the 1960s and 1970s. He won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and was a three-time world champion in his weight class.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Cairo throughout history. While the name has its roots in the Arabic language and the city of Cairo, it has been adopted and used by people of various cultures and backgrounds over the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cairo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cairo, please contact us.

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