Zarai
An Arabic feminine name meaning "blossoming flower" or "fruitful".
Name Census estimates that about 348 living Americans carry the first name Zarai. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zarai today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zarai births was 2023 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zarai. 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
348
~ 1 in 984,926 Americans
Peak year
2023
24 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,363
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Zarai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zarai 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 134 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zarai remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zarai 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 Zarai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zarais live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Florida, Texas recorded the most babies named Zarai, while Texas, Florida, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zarai
The name Zarai is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, with roots tracing back to ancient Iran and the era of the Persian Empire. It is thought to be derived from the Persian word "zar," meaning gold, and "rai," meaning advice or counsel. As such, the name Zarai could be interpreted to mean something along the lines of "golden counsel" or "precious advice."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Zarai can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century AD. In this literary masterpiece, Zarai is mentioned as the name of a wise and respected advisor to one of the Persian kings.
Throughout the centuries, the name Zarai has been borne by several notable figures in Persian and Iranian history. One such individual was Zarai ibn Khatir al-Husayni, a 12th-century Persian poet and scholar who was renowned for his contributions to the field of literature and philosophy. His works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, continue to be studied and admired to this day.
Another prominent individual with the name Zarai was Zarai Khan, a 16th-century military commander and governor who served under the Mughal Empire in India. Zarai Khan was known for his strategic prowess and his unwavering loyalty to the Mughal ruler, Akbar the Great. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was instrumental in expanding the Mughal Empire's territories.
In the realm of religion, the name Zarai has also held significance. One notable figure was Zarai al-Shirazi, a 14th-century Sufi mystic and spiritual leader from the city of Shiraz in modern-day Iran. Zarai al-Shirazi was revered for his profound spiritual teachings and his contributions to the development of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam.
Another individual of historical note bearing the name Zarai was Zarai Khanum, a 19th-century Persian princess and advocate for women's rights. As the daughter of the Qajar ruler, Fath Ali Shah, Zarai Khanum used her influence to promote education and social reforms for women in Iran, making her a pioneering figure in the early women's rights movement in the region.
While these are just a few examples, the name Zarai has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, each leaving their own unique mark on the cultures and societies in which they lived. From poets and scholars to military leaders and spiritual guides, the name Zarai has been borne by those who have sought to impart wisdom, counsel, and guidance to those around them, reflecting the profound meaning behind its origins.
People
Zarai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zarai as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zarai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zarai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 348 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zarai 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 984,926 US residents.
Is Zarai a common name?
We classify Zarai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 352 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zarai most popular?
The single biggest year for Zarai was 2023, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zarai is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zarai a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zarai 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.