Shayar
A Persian name meaning "poet" or "philosopher".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Shayar. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shayar today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shayar births was 2021 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shayar. 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 Shayar. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2021
6 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2021 SSA rank
#11,909
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Shayar: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shayar 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 Shayar 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 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shayar
The name Shayar has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to the medieval period in the regions of present-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. It is derived from the Persian word "shā'ir," which translates to "poet" or "one who composes verses." This linguistic connection suggests that the name was likely bestowed upon individuals who possessed a talent for poetry or were patrons of the arts.
In the rich literary tradition of Persian poetry, the term "shā'ir" held a revered status. Renowned poets and scholars who bore this title played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of the region. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shayar can be found in the works of the celebrated Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, who lived during the 12th century. His poetry often featured characters with names inspired by the art of verse-making, including Shayar.
Throughout the centuries, the name Shayar has been associated with several notable figures in the realms of literature, philosophy, and academia. One such figure was Shayar Jamal Uddin, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. His contributions to Persian literature and mystical poetry have left an indelible mark on the region's cultural heritage.
Another individual of historical significance was Shayar Khan, a prominent military leader and administrator during the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. He played a crucial role in the imperial court and was renowned for his strategic prowess and leadership abilities.
In the 19th century, Shayar Ali Khan, a prominent educator and social reformer, made significant contributions to the field of education in the region. He established several schools and advocated for the advancement of women's education, leaving a lasting impact on the educational landscape of his time.
The name Shayar has also been carried by individuals in the realm of music and performing arts. Shayar Qawwali, a renowned qawwali singer from the 20th century, was celebrated for his mastery of this traditional form of Sufi devotional music. His captivating performances and profound spiritual interpretations of poetry made him a revered figure in the world of qawwali.
While the name Shayar has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found resonance in various societies influenced by the rich literary and artistic traditions of the region. The name continues to carry a sense of reverence and association with the poetic arts, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy of Persian literature and culture.
People
Shayar + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shayar as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shayar: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shayar?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shayar 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Shayar a common name?
We classify Shayar as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shayar most popular?
The single biggest year for Shayar was 2021, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shayar is about 5 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 Shayar in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shayar a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shayar 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 Shayar still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shayar 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 Shayar 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 have Shayar as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.