NameCensus.
Very Rare

Zire

A name of uncertain origins, potentially derived from Persian roots.

Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Zire. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zire today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zire births was 2019 (5 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Zire. 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 Zire. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

5

~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans

Peak year

2019

5 babies that year

Average age

7

years old

2019 SSA rank

#14,111

Tracked since 2019

Popularity

Zire: popularity over time

Babies born per year

01345

Decades

Zire 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 Zire during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2010s505

Origin

Meaning and history of Zire

The given name Zire is of uncertain origin, with no clear consensus among etymologists and onomasticians regarding its linguistic roots or derivation. Some scholars speculate that it may be derived from the Persian word "zir," meaning "under" or "beneath," while others suggest a connection to the Sanskrit term "jira," which refers to the cumin plant.

Despite the ambiguity surrounding its origins, the earliest documented instances of the name Zire can be traced back to ancient Persia, where it was occasionally used as a personal moniker during the Achaemenid Empire (550 BCE - 330 BCE). However, its usage was relatively scarce, and there are no records of any notable historical figures bearing this name during that period.

The name experienced a brief resurgence in popularity during the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries CE), possibly due to its vague association with the Persian language. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zire was a renowned poet and philosopher who lived in the city of Isfahan during the 9th century CE. Unfortunately, little is known about their life or works, as most records from that era have been lost to time.

In the 12th century, a renowned Islamic scholar and mathematician from Khwarazm, Zire al-Khwarazmi, made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and astronomy. His seminal work, "Al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah," laid the foundations for modern algebraic notation and problem-solving techniques.

During the Renaissance period, the name Zire found its way into Europe, although its usage remained sparse. One notable figure was Zire Botticelli, an Italian artist and painter who was a student of the renowned Sandro Botticelli. Zire Botticelli's works, while not as celebrated as those of their mentor, still hold artistic merit and can be found in various galleries across Italy.

In the 19th century, a German philosopher and writer named Zire Nietzsche gained some recognition for their exploration of existential themes and critiques of traditional morality. Nietzsche's influential works, such as "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and "Beyond Good and Evil," had a profound impact on subsequent philosophical movements and thinkers.

Despite its obscure origins and sporadic usage throughout history, the name Zire has managed to endure, albeit in a relatively limited capacity. Its unique sound and enigmatic roots have likely contributed to its enduring appeal, even if its broader cultural significance remains elusive.

People

Zire + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Zire 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

Zire: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Zire?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zire 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 Zire a common name?

We classify Zire 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 Zire most popular?

The single biggest year for Zire was 2019, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zire is about 7 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 Zire in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Zire a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zire 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 Zire still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Zire 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 Zire 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 Americans are named Zire?

For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.

N
Name Census
namecensus.com

There are 5 people

with the first name

Zire

Look up any American name

Share this result