Naire
A unisex name of unknown origin, possibly an alteration of the French name Nairèse.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Naire. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Naire today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naire births was 2020 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naire. 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 Naire. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2020
5 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2020 SSA rank
#13,451
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Naire: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Naire 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 Naire during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Naire
The name Naire has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India, dating back to the Vedic period around the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Naira," which means "noble" or "distinguished." The name was initially borne by members of the Brahmin caste, who were regarded as the highest social class in the ancient Indian caste system.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naire can be found in the Mahabharata, a renowned Hindu epic poem composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this epic, Naire appears as a minor character, a sage who imparts wisdom to the protagonists. The name also holds significance in various Hindu scriptures, such as the Upanishads and the Puranas, where it is associated with individuals of high spiritual attainment.
During the medieval period, the name Naire gained popularity among the Nair community of Kerala, a prominent Hindu caste known for their martial traditions and involvement in the regional administration. Several historical figures from this community bore the name, including Naire Unnithan, a revered scholar and poet who lived in the 16th century.
In the 18th century, a notable figure named Naire Thampi played a crucial role in the Travancore Kingdom, serving as a capable diplomat and military commander. His diplomatic endeavors helped strengthen the kingdom's alliances and solidify its position in the region.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Naire Kaimal, a respected writer and social reformer from the 19th century. He advocated for the abolition of certain discriminatory practices within the Nair community and promoted education and social upliftment.
In the realm of literature, Naire Panicker, a celebrated Malayalam poet and playwright from the early 20th century, made significant contributions to the cultural landscape of Kerala. His works explored themes of social justice, human emotions, and the beauty of the natural world.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the name Naire throughout history, a name that has held a distinguished and noble connotation, particularly in the Indian subcontinent.
People
Naire + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naire as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naire: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naire?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naire 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 Naire a common name?
We classify Naire 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 Naire most popular?
The single biggest year for Naire was 2020, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naire is about 6 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 Naire in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naire a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naire 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 Naire still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naire 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 Naire 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 share the name Naire?
Want to know how many people share the name Naire? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.