Zarren
A unique invented name possibly derived from the Hebrew word "zar" meaning "stranger".
Name Census estimates that about 27 living Americans carry the first name Zarren. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zarren today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zarren births was 2003 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zarren. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zarren. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
27
~ 1 in 12,694,605 Americans
Peak year
2003
6 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2018 SSA rank
#12,120
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Zarren: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zarren from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 16 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
Zarren 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 Zarren 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 Zarren
The name Zarren has its origins in ancient Persia, and it is believed to have originated during the Sassanid Empire, which ruled over modern-day Iran and parts of the Middle East from the 3rd to the 7th century AD. Zarren is derived from the Persian word "zar," which means "gold" or "precious metal," suggesting that the name may have been associated with wealth, prosperity, or nobility in its early usage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zarren can be found in the Zoroastrian religious texts, specifically the Avesta, where it appears as a reference to one of the ancient Iranian tribes or clans. However, there is no definitive information about the specific individual or context in which the name was used.
In the 10th century, a renowned Persian scholar and mathematician named Zarren ibn Muhammad al-Sajzi made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. He is credited with developing advanced methods for calculating the positions of celestial bodies and improving the accuracy of astronomical tables.
Another notable figure bearing the name Zarren was Zarren al-Din Mahmud Ghaznavi, a Persian poet and philosopher who lived during the 12th century. His works, which explored themes of spirituality and mysticism, have had a lasting impact on Persian literature and Islamic philosophy.
During the 14th century, a skilled architect named Zarren al-Din Masud ibn Mahmud Shah played a crucial role in the construction of several magnificent mosques and palaces in the region of modern-day Iran. His architectural designs were renowned for their intricate geometric patterns and exquisite ornamentation.
In the 16th century, a prominent Persian scholar and calligrapher named Zarren al-Din Ali al-Husayni became renowned for his mastery of the Persian calligraphic style known as "Nasta'liq." His works were highly prized and widely admired for their elegance and artistic beauty.
While the name Zarren has its roots in ancient Persia, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, although its usage has been relatively rare compared to other Persian names. The name's association with precious metals and its connection to notable figures in fields such as mathematics, literature, architecture, and calligraphy have contributed to its enduring appeal and historical significance.
People
Zarren + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zarren 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
Zarren: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zarren?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 27 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zarren 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 12,694,605 US residents.
Is Zarren a common name?
We classify Zarren as "Very Rare". It ranks above 44.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 27 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zarren most popular?
The single biggest year for Zarren was 2003, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zarren is about 16 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 Zarren in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zarren a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zarren 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 Zarren still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zarren 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 Zarren 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 people share the name Zarren?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.