Waaris
An Arabic masculine name meaning "heir" or "successor".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Waaris. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waaris today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waaris births was 2015 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waaris. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Waaris with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Waaris. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2015
5 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,096
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Waaris: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waaris from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waaris 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 Waaris during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Waaris
The name Waaris has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "warith," which means "heir" or "inheritor." This name has been prevalent in various Islamic cultures and societies for centuries.
In the early days of Islam, the concept of inheritance played a crucial role in shaping familial and societal structures. The term "warith" held significant importance, as it referred to those who were entitled to inherit wealth, property, or responsibilities from their ancestors or predecessors.
One of the earliest known references to the name Waaris can be found in Islamic literature and religious texts, where it is often used to symbolize the notion of spiritual inheritance, referring to those who carry on the teachings and traditions of their faith.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Waaris. One of the earliest recorded examples is Waaris Khan (1526-1581), a prominent ruler of the Sur Empire in northern India during the 16th century. He was known for his military campaigns and his efforts to establish a strong centralized government.
Another historical figure with the name Waaris is Waaris Shah (1722-1798), a celebrated Sufi poet from the Punjab region of modern-day Pakistan. His poetic masterpiece, "Heer Ranjha," is considered a classic of Punjabi literature and has been widely celebrated for its exploration of love, spirituality, and social commentary.
In the 19th century, Waaris Ali Shah (1819-1901) was a prominent Nawab (ruler) of the princely state of Tonk in Rajasthan, India. He was known for his patronage of the arts and his efforts to modernize and develop his state during his reign.
Moving into the 20th century, Waaris Mir (1909-1987) was a renowned Pakistani Urdu poet and author. He was widely acclaimed for his contributions to Urdu literature and his poetic works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.
Lastly, Waaris Hussain (born 1936) is a notable Pakistani artist and painter, known for his distinctive style and his contributions to the modern art movement in Pakistan. His works have been exhibited internationally and have received widespread critical acclaim.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Waaris, each leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and poetry to politics and the arts.
People
Waaris + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waaris as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Waaris: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waaris?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waaris 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Waaris a common name?
We classify Waaris as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waaris most popular?
The single biggest year for Waaris was 2015, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waaris is about 7 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 Waaris in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Waaris a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waaris 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 Waaris still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Waaris 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 Waaris 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 Americans are named Waaris?
See how many people share the name Waaris on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.