Gaber
A masculine Arabic name meaning "powerful" or "mighty".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Gaber. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gaber today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gaber births was 1996 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gaber. 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 Gaber. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1996
5 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
1996 SSA rank
#9,490
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Gaber: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gaber 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 Gaber 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 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gaber
The name Gaber has its roots in the Arabic language, originating from the word "jabir," which means "mender" or "restorer." This name traces its origins back to the 7th century AD, during the early Islamic period in the Middle East.
In Arabic culture, the name Gaber was often associated with individuals who possessed the ability to heal or mend, both physically and metaphorically. It was a name that carried a sense of respect and admiration for those who dedicated their lives to restoring harmony and well-being.
One of the earliest and most notable figures to bear the name Gaber was Jabir ibn Hayyan, a renowned alchemist and scholar who lived in the 8th century AD. He made significant contributions to the fields of chemistry, alchemy, and medicine, earning him the title "the father of Arab chemistry." His works influenced the development of scientific thought throughout the Islamic Golden Age.
Another historical figure who carried the name Gaber was Gaber ibn Aflah, a prominent astronomer and mathematician who lived in Seville, Spain, during the 12th century. He made significant advancements in the study of celestial mechanics and contributed to the development of astronomical instruments.
In the realm of Islamic mysticism, Gaber al-Suhrawardi, a Persian philosopher and mystic who lived in the 12th century, was a notable figure. He founded the Illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy and wrote extensively on the concept of illumination and its relationship to spiritual enlightenment.
During the medieval period, the name Gaber also appeared in various historical records and texts. For instance, Gaber ibn Hayyam was a renowned physician and author who lived in the 11th century and wrote extensively on medical topics, including the treatment of eye diseases.
In more recent history, Gaber Asfour, an Egyptian writer and journalist born in 1944, gained recognition for his literary works and contributions to the field of journalism. His novel "The Smell of the Sea" earned him critical acclaim and several literary awards.
Throughout its long history, the name Gaber has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, encompassing scholars, scientists, mystics, and writers. While its roots are firmly embedded in Arabic culture, the name's association with healing, restoration, and intellectual pursuits has transcended geographical boundaries, making it a name with a rich and multifaceted legacy.
People
Gaber + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gaber as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gaber: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gaber?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gaber 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Gaber a common name?
We classify Gaber as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gaber most popular?
The single biggest year for Gaber was 1996, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gaber is about 29 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 Gaber in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gaber a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gaber 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 Gaber still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gaber 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 Gaber 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 are named Gaber?
Find out how many people have the name Gaber on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.