Zayer
A masculine name of Arabic origin, meaning "visitor" or "guest".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Zayer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zayer today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zayer births was 2017 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zayer. 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 Zayer with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zayer. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2017
5 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2017 SSA rank
#14,227
Tracked since 2017
Popularity
Zayer: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Zayer 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 Zayer 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 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Zayer
The name Zayer has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 7th century CE. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "zayr," which means "visitor" or "guest." This name was initially given to children born during a time of pilgrimage or migration, as a symbol of hospitality and welcoming.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Zayer can be found in the historical records of the Umayyad Caliphate, an Islamic empire that ruled from 661 to 750 CE. During this period, a respected scholar and poet named Zayer ibn Abi Sulayman (680-744 CE) gained prominence for his literary contributions and his work in preserving Arabic literature.
Throughout the centuries, the name Zayer has been associated with various notable figures across the Middle East and North Africa. In the 11th century, Zayer al-Shami (1020-1090 CE) was a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian from Damascus, known for his expertise in Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence.
During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (1250-1517 CE), a prominent military leader named Zayer Baybars (1223-1277 CE) rose to power and became the Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He was renowned for his military campaigns against the Crusaders and his efforts in strengthening the Mamluk dynasty.
In more recent times, Zayer al-Qahtani (1926-2002) was a Saudi Arabian poet and writer who gained recognition for his contributions to modern Arabic literature. His works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, and he was celebrated for his unique poetic style.
Another notable figure was Zayer Bazmee (born 1956), an Indian film director and producer known for his successful Bollywood comedies. His films, such as "Welcome" and "Ready," have been widely acclaimed for their humor and storytelling.
While the name Zayer has its origins in the Arabic language, it has transcended cultural boundaries and can be found in various parts of the world today. However, historical records and the prominence of individuals bearing this name seem to be concentrated primarily in the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and linguistic significance.
People
Zayer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zayer 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
Zayer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zayer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zayer 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Zayer a common name?
We classify Zayer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zayer most popular?
The single biggest year for Zayer was 2017, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zayer is about 9 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 Zayer in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zayer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zayer 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 Zayer still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zayer 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 Zayer 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 Zayer as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Zayer on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.