Zaire
From the former name of the Congo state, which the Portuguese took from a Kikongo word for the great river that swallows all rivers.
Zaire in 2025
Zaire was given to 608 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1,002nd most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 5,453 babies born.
The history of Zaire
Zaire reached its highest point in 2023, when 674 babies were given the name, ranking 924th that year.
Across the 52 years of records since 1974, 10,897 babies have been named Zaire. Half of them were born before 2015, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Zaire by decade
| Decade | Babies named Zaire | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 80 | 4,813 |
| 1980s | 73 | 6,934 |
| 1990s | 1,149 | 1,478 |
| 2000s | 2,690 | 1,434 |
| 2010s | 3,201 | 1,134 |
| 2020s | 3,704 | 924 |
Where Zaire is heading
Zaire has risen 119% over the past decade, from 277 babies in 2015 to 608 in 2025.
Names like Zaire
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Zaire.