Zaryk
A unique name with unknown origins or meanings.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Zaryk. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zaryk today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zaryk births was 2012 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zaryk. 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 Zaryk. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2012
5 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2017 SSA rank
#14,221
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Zaryk: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Zaryk 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 Zaryk during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Zaryk
The name Zaryk is believed to have originated from the ancient Slavic language that was spoken in Eastern and Central Europe during the medieval period. It is derived from the Proto-Slavic root word "zar", which means "fire" or "flame". The suffix "-yk" was commonly added to Slavic names to indicate a diminutive form, suggesting that Zaryk may have originally been a nickname or a term of endearment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zaryk can be found in the Moravian Chronicles, a historical record dating back to the 9th century. These chronicles mention a Slavic prince named Zaryk who ruled over a region in what is now modern-day Czech Republic. Unfortunately, there is limited information available about this figure, but his inclusion in the chronicles suggests that the name was in use during that time period.
In the 12th century, a renowned Kievan scholar and monk named Zaryk Petrovich gained recognition for his contributions to the preservation of ancient manuscripts and the translation of religious texts. He is credited with establishing one of the earliest libraries in the Kievan Rus', which played a crucial role in the dissemination of knowledge during that era.
During the 16th century, a Serbian military commander named Zaryk Branković rose to prominence for his role in the defense of Belgrade against the Ottoman Empire. His bravery and strategic prowess were celebrated in various historical accounts, and he is regarded as a significant figure in the history of Serbian resistance against foreign invasion.
In the 18th century, a renowned Russian poet and playwright named Zaryk Krylov gained widespread acclaim for his satirical fables and comedic plays. His works were highly influential in shaping the literary landscape of Russia during that period, and many of his fables remain popular to this day.
Another notable figure bearing the name Zaryk was a Polish composer and musician named Zaryk Szymanowski, who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is recognized for his contributions to the development of Polish national music and his innovative use of folk melodies and rhythms in his compositions.
While the name Zaryk may have originated from Slavic roots, it has since been adopted and adapted by various cultures and ethnicities around the world. However, its historical significance and connections to the Slavic heritage remain an integral part of its rich cultural tapestry.
People
Zaryk + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zaryk 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
Zaryk: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zaryk?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zaryk 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 Zaryk a common name?
We classify Zaryk 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 Zaryk most popular?
The single biggest year for Zaryk was 2012, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zaryk is about 11 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 Zaryk in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zaryk a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zaryk 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 Zaryk still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zaryk 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 Zaryk 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 have the name Zaryk?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Zaryk, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.