Irem
A feminine Arabic name meaning "elevated location" or "lush garden paradise."
Name Census estimates that about 98 living Americans carry the first name Irem. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Irem today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Irem births was 2004 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Irem. 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 Irem. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
98
~ 1 in 3,497,493 Americans
Peak year
2004
11 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,172
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Irem: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Irem from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 56 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Irem 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 Irem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Irem
The name Irem derives from the Arabic word 'Iram', which means 'paradise' or 'heaven'. Its origin can be traced back to the Quran, where it is mentioned as the name of an ancient city or garden known for its beauty and splendor. The name is believed to have been in use in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Irem can be found in the work of the 9th-century Arab historian Al-Tabari, who wrote about the legendary city of Iram Dhat al-Imad. This city was described as being adorned with lofty buildings and towering pillars, and was said to have been destroyed by God for the sins of its inhabitants.
In the 12th century, the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi wrote about the fabled city of Iram in his epic poem "Haft Peykar". The poet depicted Iram as a paradise on Earth, filled with lush gardens and magnificent palaces.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Irem. One of the earliest was Irem Khanim (1571-1655), a Crimean princess who married the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I and became the mother of two future sultans, Osman II and Murad IV.
Another noteworthy figure was Irem Tuzun (1900-1972), a Turkish actress and singer who was a pioneering figure in the early days of Turkish cinema and theater. She is considered one of the most influential artists of her time and was renowned for her performances in both dramatic and comedic roles.
In the realm of literature, Irem Uzunidis (1941-2019) was a prominent Turkish novelist and playwright. Her works often explored themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. She was widely acclaimed for her lyrical writing style and her ability to capture the nuances of everyday life.
The name Irem has also been associated with individuals in the field of science and technology. Irem Aksu (born 1964) is a Turkish computer scientist and entrepreneur who co-founded the software company Panorama Software. She has made significant contributions to the development of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and has been recognized for her innovative work in the field of software engineering.
In the world of sports, Irem Karamete (born 1985) is a Turkish professional basketball player who has represented the Turkish national team and played for several clubs in Turkey and abroad. She is known for her skill and determination on the court, and has been an inspiration to many young athletes in her home country.
People
Irem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Irem as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Irem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Irem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 98 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Irem 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 3,497,493 US residents.
Is Irem a common name?
We classify Irem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 99 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Irem most popular?
The single biggest year for Irem was 2004, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Irem is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Irem a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Irem 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.