Zaire
Meaningriver · Kongo
- US rank
- #503
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #466 in 2023
601 babies were named Zaire in the US in 2025. It has climbed 23 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1975–2025
US births per million boys, 1974–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Zaire you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,842 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Zaire, 601 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Zaire would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryZaire first shows up in US birth records in 1974, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 51 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2023, when it reached #466.
- Then vs nowZaire is 3.4× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 9,671 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,842.
- TrendZaire has climbed 23 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #503. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedZaire is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #215, followed by Georgia (#217) and Connecticut (#296). It's in the top 1,000 in 30 states.
- MeaningIn Kongo, Zaire means “river”.
- OriginZaire is the #5 most popular African boy name in the US. That's out of 218 African boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Zaire
Zaire is a boy name of African origin meaning “river”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with Z and ending in “-ire”. US birth records list Zaire for boys from 1974 to 2025, in 49 of those 52 years. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked #466 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #503, with 601 babies.
Origin:African names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.2 | 446,429 girls |
| 1980s | 1.6 | 613,497 girls |
| 1990s | 24 | 42,409 girls |
| 2000s | 31 | 32,690 girls |
| 2010s | 19 | 53,996 girls |
| 2020s | 8.1 | 123,203 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.5 | 153,846 boys |
| 1980s | 2.4 | 423,729 boys |
| 1990s | 38 | 26,219 boys |
| 2000s | 106 | 9,420 boys |
| 2010s | 154 | 6,492 boys |
| 2020s | 350 | 2,858 boys |
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Boy name: Ramses · born of Ra
- Unisex name: Egypt · the country Egypt
- Boy name: Adem · earth
- Boy name: Ata · twin
Questions about the name Zaire
What does the name Zaire mean?
Zaire means “river” in Kongo.
What is the origin of the name Zaire?
Zaire has African roots in our records. Other African names include Cairo, Asa, Paulo.
Is Zaire a boy or girl name?
Zaire is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Zaire?
Zaire ranked #503 for US boys in 2025, given to 601 babies. Its best year was 2023 (#466).