Farrad
A Persian name meaning "wise" or "one who brings good news".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Farrad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Farrad today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Farrad births was 1990 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Farrad. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Farrad. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1990
7 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
1990 SSA rank
#6,657
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Farrad: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Farrad 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 Farrad during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Farrad
The name Farrad is believed to have originated from the Persian language. In ancient Persian culture, the name is derived from the word 'farr', which means 'glory' or 'radiance'. This suggests that the name Farrad may have been bestowed upon individuals who were seen as glorious, radiant, or possessing an aura of nobility.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Farrad can be found in the ancient Persian epic, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this literary masterpiece, Farrad appears as a minor character, a soldier in the army of the legendary king Kai Khosrow.
During the medieval period, the name Farrad gained prominence in various regions of the Persian cultural sphere, including present-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. Historical records from this era indicate that several individuals bearing the name Farrad held positions of influence and authority within various royal courts and governing bodies.
One notable figure named Farrad was a Persian scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century. Born in the city of Nishapur, Farrad al-Din Razi made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and metaphysics. His works were widely studied and influential during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another historical figure named Farrad was a 14th-century Persian architect who played a crucial role in the construction of several iconic mosques and palaces in the city of Isfahan, which was then the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty. His architectural works were renowned for their intricate designs and innovative use of tilework and calligraphy.
In the 16th century, a Farrad Khan served as a military commander under the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was known for his bravery and strategic prowess, particularly during the conquest of Gujarat and the subjugation of the rebel forces in Bengal.
While the name Farrad has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has also been adopted and used in various parts of the world, including Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. However, it is important to note that the historical instances and individuals mentioned above are limited to the specific cultural context and time periods in which the name was prevalent.
People
Farrad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Farrad as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Farrad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Farrad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Farrad 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Farrad a common name?
We classify Farrad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Farrad most popular?
The single biggest year for Farrad was 1990, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Farrad is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Farrad in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Farrad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Farrad in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Farrad still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Farrad in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Farrad can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Farrad?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.