Rising since 1989, #4,396 for boys today.
Popularity of Nadir since 1975
Babies named Nadir per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 59 |
| 1980s | 144 |
| 1990s | 269 |
| 2000s | 372 |
| 2010s | 296 |
| 2020s | 152 |
Meaning & origin
Nadir is an Arabic name meaning "rare" or "precious," and it also carries the astronomical meaning of the point opposite the zenith. First recorded in the U.S. in 1975, the name has never been common but has seen a gradual rise in usage since 1989. In 2025, it ranked 4,396, with a one-in-74,264 frequency. Its peak year so far was 2001, and it has been most frequently given in Pennsylvania. The name offers a distinctive choice that is both meaningful and culturally rich.
Nadir comes from the Arabic word "nādir" (نادر), meaning "rare" or "precious." In astronomy, it was adopted into medieval Latin as "nadir" to denote the point directly opposite the zenith. The name has been used in the Arabic-speaking world for centuries and gained limited use in English-speaking countries beginning in the late 20th century.
Where Nadir is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nadir” around the world
Where Nadir lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nad, Nady
Variants: Nadeer, Nadeer
Sibling names for Nadir
Names that share Nadir's style, for a brother or sister.
