Tahira
An Arabic feminine name meaning "pure" or "virtuous".
Name Census estimates that about 1,229 living Americans carry the first name Tahira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tahira today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tahira births was 1975 (43 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tahira. 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
1.2K
~ 1 in 278,889 Americans
Peak year
1975
43 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,347
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Tahira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tahira from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 269 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Tahira remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tahira 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 Tahira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tahiras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Tahira, while Texas, Ohio, Connecticut recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 38 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tahira
The name Tahira is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the word "taher," which means "pure" or "virtuous." It is believed to have emerged in the 7th century during the early days of Islam, as the religion placed a strong emphasis on purity and righteousness.
Tahira was a name commonly used in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions during the medieval period. It gained popularity among Muslim communities as a name that embodied the values of piety and moral excellence.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Tahira can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. These writings often referred to pious women and female companions of the Prophet Muhammad with the name Tahira, highlighting their virtuous character.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Tahira. One of the most prominent was Tahira Qaddusi (1938-2022), a renowned Palestinian poet and writer known for her powerful literary works that explored themes of identity, resistance, and the Palestinian struggle.
Another influential figure was Tahira Sultana (1735-1800), a skilled military commander and leader from the Sultanate of Mysore in India. She played a crucial role in the Kingdom's resistance against British colonial rule and is celebrated for her bravery and leadership.
In the realm of science, Tahira Noor (born 1974) is a prominent Pakistani astrophysicist and the first woman from her country to earn a PhD in astrophysics. Her research has contributed significantly to the understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan (1892-1957) was a pioneering Pakistani educator and social reformer who advocated for women's education and empowerment. She founded several educational institutions and played a pivotal role in advancing women's rights in the region.
Lastly, Tahira Kashyap Khurrana (born 1983) is a contemporary Indian film director, writer, and actor. Her directorial debut, "Sharmaji Ki Bitti," received critical acclaim for its portrayal of modern Indian women and their challenges.
These are just a few examples of remarkable individuals who have carried the name Tahira throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and embodying the virtues associated with the name's meaning.
People
Tahira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tahira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tahira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tahira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,229 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tahira 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 278,889 US residents.
Is Tahira a common name?
We classify Tahira as "Rare". It ranks above 91.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,281 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tahira most popular?
The single biggest year for Tahira was 1975, when 43 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tahira is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tahira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tahira 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.