Nyre
A masculine Scandinavian name likely derived from the Old Norse word for "kidney".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Nyre. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 54.5% of registrations being female. The average person named Nyre today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyre births was 2005 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyre. 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 Nyre. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2005
6 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2003 SSA rank
#12,217
Tracked since 2003
Gender
Gender distribution for Nyre
Nyre is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 11 total registrations, 5 (45.5%) were male and 6 (54.5%) were female.
Nyre as a male name
- Ranked #12,217 in 2003
- 5 male births in 2003
- Peak: 2003 (5 births)
Nyre as a female name
- Ranked #15,923 in 2005
- 6 female births in 2005
- Peak: 2005 (6 births)
Popularity
Nyre: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyre 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 Nyre during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nyre
The name Nyre is a rare given name with an intriguing history that can be traced back to ancient civilizations in the Near East. It is believed to have originated from the Sumerian language, which was spoken in the region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 BCE. The name Nyre is thought to be derived from the Sumerian word "nir," which means "light" or "brilliance."
In the ancient Sumerian culture, names often held deep symbolic meaning and were chosen with care. The name Nyre may have been used to represent the qualities of radiance, illumination, and perhaps even spiritual enlightenment. It is possible that the name was associated with deities or celestial bodies that were revered for their luminous qualities.
While there are no definitive records of the name Nyre appearing in ancient Sumerian texts or inscriptions, its linguistic origins suggest it may have been in use among the people of that era. As civilizations rose and fell in the region, the name likely evolved and was passed down through various cultures and belief systems.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nyre was a Persian scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. Nyre al-Qami was renowned for his contributions to Persian literature and his works on philosophy and mysticism. His poems often explored themes of spirituality and the pursuit of enlightenment, perhaps reflecting the symbolic meaning of his name.
In the 12th century, Nyre ibn al-Khayyam was a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Persia. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and geometry, and his works were widely studied and influential in the Islamic world and beyond.
The name Nyre also appeared in various historical records from the Ottoman Empire. Nyre Bey was a notable military commander and statesman who served during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II in the 15th century. He played a crucial role in the conquest of Constantinople and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.
In the 19th century, Nyre Efendi was a prominent Ottoman diplomat and scholar. He served as an ambassador to various European courts and was known for his expertise in languages and cultural affairs.
Nyre Tekin was a Turkish writer and journalist who lived in the early 20th century. She was a pioneering figure in the women's rights movement in Turkey and used her writing to advocate for gender equality and social reforms.
While the name Nyre is relatively uncommon today, it carries a rich history and cultural significance rooted in ancient civilizations and their reverence for light and enlightenment. Its enduring use over centuries by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields highlights the enduring appeal of this unique and symbolic name.
People
Nyre + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyre 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
Nyre: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyre?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyre 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Nyre a common name?
We classify Nyre as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyre most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyre was 2005, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyre is about 22 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 Nyre in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nyre a female name?
Yes, 54.5% of people registered as Nyre 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.
Is Nyre still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nyre 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 Nyre 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 Nyre?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.