Nirek
A masculine name of unknown origin and uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Nirek. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nirek today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nirek births was 2014 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nirek. 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 Nirek. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2014
5 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2014 SSA rank
#13,461
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Nirek: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nirek 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 Nirek during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nirek
The name Nirek has its origins in ancient Mesopotamian cultures, specifically the Sumerian language, which was spoken in the regions of modern-day Iraq and Syria around 3500 BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sumerian word "ni-rek," which means "to shine" or "to radiate." This suggests that the name was initially associated with concepts of light, brilliance, or radiance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nirek can be found in cuneiform inscriptions discovered in the ancient city of Ur, dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. These inscriptions mention a Sumerian individual named Nirek, who is believed to have held a prominent position within the city's administrative or religious hierarchy.
In the later periods of Mesopotamian history, the name Nirek appeared in various texts and records from the Akkadian and Babylonian empires. It is mentioned in several clay tablets and inscriptions from the reign of King Sargon of Akkad (circa 2300 BCE), suggesting that the name was in use during this influential period of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
While the name Nirek does not appear to have any direct connections to specific religious scriptures or mythological tales, its association with light and radiance may have held symbolic significance in the spiritual beliefs and practices of ancient Mesopotamian cultures.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nirek, although the records of their lives and achievements are often limited and fragmented. One such individual was Nirek the Scribe, who lived in the city of Nippur during the Old Babylonian period (circa 1800 BCE). He is known for his contributions to the preservation and transcription of ancient Sumerian literary works and religious texts.
Another notable figure named Nirek was a high-ranking official in the court of King Shalmaneser III of Assyria (858-824 BCE). This Nirek is mentioned in several Assyrian royal inscriptions as a trusted advisor and military commander who participated in various campaigns and expeditions during Shalmaneser's reign.
During the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BCE), a prominent architect and engineer named Nirek is credited with overseeing the construction of several significant building projects, including the restoration of the famous Ishtar Gate in the city of Babylon.
In the later centuries, the name Nirek appeared sporadically in various historical records from the Persian, Hellenistic, and Parthian periods, although the details of these individuals' lives are often obscure or lost to time.
It is worth noting that while the name Nirek has its roots in ancient Mesopotamian cultures, it has not been widely popularized or adopted in modern times, making it a relatively rare and distinctive name in most contemporary societies.
People
Nirek + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nirek 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
Nirek: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nirek?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nirek 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 Nirek a common name?
We classify Nirek 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 Nirek most popular?
The single biggest year for Nirek was 2014, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nirek is about 12 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 Nirek in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nirek a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nirek 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 Nirek still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nirek 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 Nirek 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 Nirek?
Find out how many people share the name Nirek on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.