Kairan
A masculine name with uncertain origins, possibly Persian.
Name Census estimates that about 73 living Americans carry the first name Kairan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kairan today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kairan births was 2023 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kairan. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Kairan with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kairan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
73
~ 1 in 4,695,265 Americans
Peak year
2023
11 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,589
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Kairan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kairan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 39 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kairan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kairan 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 Kairan 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 Kairan
The name Kairan is a rare and intriguing one, its origins shrouded in mystery and obscurity. According to some linguists, it may have roots in ancient Sanskrit, deriving from the word "kairana," which loosely translates to "one who brings joy or happiness." However, the precise etymology remains elusive, as records from those ancient times are sparse and often fragmented.
While the name's linguistic roots are uncertain, there are hints of its historical significance scattered across various cultures and civilizations. In the annals of ancient Persian literature, a character bearing the name Kairan is mentioned in the epic poem "Shahnameh," penned by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. This literary reference suggests that the name may have held importance in the Persian cultural sphere during that era.
Another intriguing historical reference comes from the archives of the Byzantine Empire. In a collection of imperial records dating back to the 6th century, a diplomat bearing the name Kairan is mentioned as part of a diplomatic mission to the court of the Sassanid Persian Empire. This tantalizing glimpse into the past suggests that the name may have transcended cultural boundaries, carrying significance across the ancient world.
As for notable individuals who have borne the name Kairan throughout history, the records are scarce but intriguing. One of the earliest known figures was Kairan al-Basri, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 8th century CE. His writings and teachings on Islamic jurisprudence and theology were widely influential during his time and for centuries thereafter.
Another notable figure was Kairan Khan, a powerful military commander who served under the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. His strategic prowess and leadership on the battlefield earned him a place in the annals of Mughal history, as he played a pivotal role in several campaigns and conquests.
In the realm of arts and culture, the name Kairan was also borne by Kairan Gupta, a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived in the 18th century. Her graceful movements and innovative choreography are said to have inspired generations of dancers and left an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of Indian dance traditions.
Moving forward in time, the 19th century saw the birth of Kairan Tursunov, a prominent Uzbek poet and writer whose works celebrated the beauty of his homeland and the resilience of its people. His poetry, imbued with vivid imagery and profound insights, continues to be cherished by literary enthusiasts in Central Asia and beyond.
Finally, in the 20th century, the name Kairan was carried by Kairan Mahallati, an Iranian philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the fields of metaphysics and epistemology. His writings and lectures on the nature of knowledge and reality garnered him a reputation as a deep thinker and intellectual luminary in his time.
These are but a few examples of the diverse individuals who have borne the name Kairan throughout the ages, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and cultural spheres. While the name's origins may remain shrouded in mystery, its presence across centuries and civilizations speaks to its enduring allure and the richness of its historical tapestry.
People
Kairan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kairan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kairan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kairan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 73 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kairan 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 4,695,265 US residents.
Is Kairan a common name?
We classify Kairan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 60% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 74 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kairan most popular?
The single biggest year for Kairan was 2023, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kairan is about 8 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 Kairan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kairan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kairan 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 Kairan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kairan 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 Kairan 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 Kairan?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.