Rising since 1995, #226 for boys today.
Popularity of Kairo since 1995
Babies named Kairo per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 48 |
| 2000s | 208 |
| 2010s | 2,491 |
| 2020s | 8,477 |
Meaning & origin
Kairo is a modern name that first appeared on the U.S. Social Security Administration's list in 1995. It has since risen steadily, reaching its peak rank of 226 in 2025, with about 1 in 1,083 boys receiving the name. The name shows pronounced popularity in the District of Columbia, Delaware, and Maryland, suggesting a regional preference along the East Coast. Kairo fits a contemporary pattern of names ending in 'o' and place-inspired names, and its trajectory suggests continued growth.
Kairo is a modern coinage, likely inspired by the city of Cairo, Egypt. The city's name derives from the Arabic al-Qāhirah, meaning 'the victorious.' However, the name Kairo as a given name emerged in the United States in the mid-1990s, and it is not a traditional Arabic name. Its rise in popularity is part of a trend of place-inspired and -o ending names for boys.
Where Kairo is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kairo” around the world
Where Kairo lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
7
babies in 2025
New Zealand
35
babies in 2025
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai
Variants: Cairo
Sibling names for Kairo
Names that share Kairo's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Nova, Maya, Lena, Zara, Skye, Amirrah, Camiya, Jazara, Mehlani, Rmani, Zanyah, Analayah, Dailani, Daziyah, Essynce, Jalayla, Kamoura, Greeicy, Nylayah, Taziyah
Brothers: Luka, Theo, Milo, Ezra, Jasper, Amiri, Chozen, Zyion, Khyri, Nyaire, Zekiah, Ziaire, Anuel, Syair, Ziair, Jhayco, Keimoni, Khamoni, Khyaire, Makaveli, Omir, Zyree
Names like Kairo
Names whose popularity has moved with Kairo's over the last 50 years.
