Zahara
Girl name · #1290 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
Zahara ranks #1290 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 174 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1416, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,345 girls born in 2025 was named Zahara.
Babies named Zahara per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 39-year story
Zahara first appears in the Social Security records in 1986, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 202 girls were named Zahara — good for #1197 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zahara against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zahara in class?
Zahara scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Zahara is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zahara is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Zaharas were FL (15), CA (14), NY (13), TX (13), PA (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Zahara
Statistically, parents drawn to Zahara tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zamara, Inara, Klara, Zamira, and Chiara.
ZamaraInaraKlaraZamiraChiaraZamoraAmeeraNaiara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zahara | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 174 | #1285 |
| 2024 | 197 | #1202 |
| 2023 | 181 | #1269 |
| 2022 | 202 | #1190 |
| 2021 | 202 | #1197 |
| 2020 | 163 | #1349 |
| 2019 | 165 | #1366 |
| 2018 | 150 | #1461 |
| 2017 | 160 | #1422 |
| 2016 | 166 | #1403 |
| 2015 | 163 | #1416 |
| 2014 | 135 | #1590 |
| 2013 | 137 | #1570 |
| 2012 | 159 | #1432 |
| 2011 | 151 | #1480 |
| 2010 | 152 | #1481 |
| 2009 | 148 | #1528 |
| 2008 | 160 | #1468 |
| 2007 | 134 | #1655 |
| 2006 | 173 | #1342 |
| 2005 | 81 | #2239 |
| 2004 | 24 | #5208 |
| 2003 | 31 | #4220 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6698 |
| 2001 | 24 | #4834 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zahara a popular girl name?
Zahara ranked #1290 among girls in 2025 with 174 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1416.
When was the name Zahara most popular?
Zahara peaked in 2021, when 202 American girls received the name (ranked #1197 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zahara?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,345 newborn American girls was named Zahara. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.