Zaire Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Zaire is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Zaire?
Zaire is spelled Z-A-I-R-E. The name has 5 letters.
Zaire at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- The name “Zaire” is derived from a Portuguese adaptation of the Kikongo word “nzere” or “nzadi,” which means “the river that swallows all…
- Origin
- The name “Zaire” originated as a Portuguese transcription of a Kikongo term referring to the Congo River and was historically used as a place name in…
- Pronunciation
- ZAY-eer · 2 syllables
Zaire Popularity in 2025
Rank#11,932
Recorded Births7
Rank#503
Recorded Births601
- Girls usage fell 3,965 places to #11,932 and recorded 6 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 33 places to #503 and recorded 54 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Zaire Mean?
The name “Zaire” is derived from a Portuguese adaptation of the Kikongo word “nzere” or “nzadi,” which means “the river that swallows all rivers.”
Origin: The name “Zaire” originated as a Portuguese transcription of a Kikongo term referring to the Congo River and was historically used as a place name in Central Africa.
How Do You Pronounce Zaire?
PronunciationZAY-eer
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Zaire?
- History
- “Zaire” was the name of a country in Central Africa from 1971 to 1997. The name has increased in use as a personal given name in recent years, particularly in the United States.
Zaire Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 7 | #11,932 |
| 2025 | Boys | 601 | #503 |
| 2024 | Girls | 13 | #7,967 |
| 2024 | Boys | 655 | #470 |
| 2023 | Girls | 19 | #6,169 |
| 2023 | Boys | 655 | #466 |
| 2022 | Girls | 12 | #8,542 |
| 2022 | Boys | 615 | #496 |
| 2021 | Girls | 16 | #6,967 |
| 2021 | Boys | 557 | #529 |
| 2020 | Girls | 12 | #8,406 |
| 2020 | Boys | 542 | #526 |
| 2019 | Girls | 22 | #5,612 |
| 2019 | Boys | 498 | #560 |
| 2018 | Girls | 17 | #6,792 |
| 2018 | Boys | 389 | #656 |
| 2017 | Girls | 33 | #4,304 |
| 2017 | Boys | 317 | #746 |
| 2016 | Girls | 23 | #5,622 |
| 2016 | Boys | 305 | #779 |
| 2015 | Girls | 23 | #5,653 |
| 2015 | Boys | 254 | #873 |
| 2014 | Girls | 39 | #3,848 |
| 2014 | Boys | 238 | #904 |
When Was Zaire Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2024 · Boys
655 recorded births
National rank #470
2023 · Boys
655 recorded births
National rank #466
2022 · Boys
615 recorded births
National rank #496
2025 · Boys
601 recorded births
National rank #503
Where Zaire Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #215 | 14 |
| GA | #217 | 56 |
| CT | #296 | 10 |
| MA | #318 | 17 |
| LA | #353 | 14 |
| MD | #364 | 14 |
| FL | #369 | 53 |
| IN | #395 | 18 |