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The short answer
Zaire is a masculine name used in African American. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the name of the African country of Zaire, in existence from 1971 to 1997, now called the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is said to be derived from Kikongo nzadi o nzere meaning ‘river swallowing rivers’, referring to the Congo River." It ranked #503 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the name of the African country of Zaire, in existence from 1971 to 1997, now called the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is said to be derived from Kikongo nzadi o nzere meaning ‘river swallowing rivers’, referring to the Congo River. The entry lists its usage as African American (Modern).
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Zaire ranked #503 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #503 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (African American) and that sit near Zaire in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Zaire mean?
Zaire means "river swallowing rivers", according to Behind the Name.
Is Zaire a popular name?
Zaire ranked #503 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Zaire a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Zaire appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Zaire — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
