Yahira
A feminine Arabic name meaning "blooming flower" or "fragrant jasmine".
Name Census estimates that about 471 living Americans carry the first name Yahira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yahira today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yahira births was 2007 (38 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yahira. 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
471
~ 1 in 727,716 Americans
Peak year
2007
38 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,370
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Yahira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yahira from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 240 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yahira 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 Yahira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yahiras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Yahira, while Texas, New York, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 34 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Yahira
The given name Yahira finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Yaher," which means "precious" or "valuable." Its earliest recorded usage dates back to the 7th century CE, during the rise of the Islamic Empire in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Yahira was a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Cordoba, Spain, during the 10th century CE. Her poetic works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human experience, were widely acclaimed and influential during the golden age of Islamic civilization in Iberia.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Yahira ibn al-Haytham made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and astronomy. Born in present-day Iraq, she developed advanced theories and calculations that laid the foundation for future advancements in these disciplines.
During the Ottoman Empire, a prominent military leader named Yahira al-Dīn emerged in the 15th century. She was celebrated for her strategic prowess and leadership in multiple battles against invading forces, earning her a place in the annals of Ottoman history.
In the realm of literature, Yahira al-Baghdadi, a renowned author and poet from the 17th century, left a lasting impact with her poignant works that explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Her writings were widely read and admired throughout the Arabic-speaking world.
Another notable figure with the name Yahira was a 19th-century scholar and educator from Egypt, Yahira al-Masri. She played a pivotal role in advocating for women's education and establishing some of the first schools for girls in the region, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for future generations.
While the name Yahira has deep historical roots in the Arabic and Islamic cultures, it has also gained popularity and recognition in various parts of the world, transcending cultural boundaries and serving as a symbol of the rich tapestry of human diversity.
People
Yahira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yahira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yahira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yahira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 471 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yahira 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 727,716 US residents.
Is Yahira a common name?
We classify Yahira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 485 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yahira most popular?
The single biggest year for Yahira was 2007, when 38 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yahira is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yahira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yahira 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.