Syriah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "exalted" or "illustrious".
Name Census estimates that about 745 living Americans carry the first name Syriah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Syriah today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Syriah births was 2009 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Syriah. 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.
People living today
745
~ 1 in 460,073 Americans
Peak year
2009
52 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,443
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Syriah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Syriah from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 332 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Syriah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Syriah 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 Syriah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Syriahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Florida, Texas, California recorded the most babies named Syriah, while Georgia, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 28 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Syriah
The name Syriah has its origins traced back to ancient Semitic languages spoken in the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed to have derived from the Aramaic word "syr" or the Hebrew word "sur," both meaning "rock" or "fortress." This connection suggests that the name may have carried connotations of strength, durability, and resilience in its earliest usage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Syriah can be found in the Bible, specifically in the book of Ezra. It is mentioned as the name of a region located in ancient Mesopotamia, likely corresponding to the historical region of Syria. This biblical reference dates back to the 5th century BCE.
During the Byzantine era, the name Syriah gained prominence as a personal name among Christian communities in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Saint Syriah of Gaza (c. 550-614 CE) was a Christian monk and ascetic celebrated for his piety and miracles. His life and deeds were recorded in hagiographies, further popularizing the name.
In the 9th century CE, Syriah ibn al-Hakam was a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of algebra. His works, including the influential treatise "Kitab fi'l-Jabr wa'l-Muqabala" (The Book of Algebra), played a crucial role in the development of algebraic notation and problem-solving techniques.
Another notable figure bearing the name Syriah was Syriah al-Razi (c. 854-925 CE), a Persian polymath, philosopher, and scholar. He was a pioneering figure in the fields of medicine, alchemy, and philosophy, and his works, such as "Al-Hawi" (The Comprehensive Book), had a lasting impact on medical knowledge in the Islamic world and beyond.
In the 12th century, Syriah al-Qunawi was a prominent Sufi mystic and philosopher from Konya (present-day Turkey). He was a disciple of the renowned Persian poet and mystic Rumi and contributed significantly to the development of Sufi thought and literature through his writings and teachings.
While the name Syriah has ancient roots and historical significance, its usage as a personal name has been relatively rare in modern times. However, its unique sound and connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East and North Africa have continued to inspire parents in their choice of names for their children.
People
Syriah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Syriah 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
Syriah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Syriah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 745 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Syriah 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 460,073 US residents.
Is Syriah a common name?
We classify Syriah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 752 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Syriah most popular?
The single biggest year for Syriah was 2009, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Syriah is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Syriah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Syriah 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.
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.