Total births
1,359
Unisex name · since 1921
Iran
Since 1921, U.S. Social Security records show 1,359 babies named Iran, peaking in 1978. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #9101
- among boys today
- 1,359
- born since 1921
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Iran is the #9101 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,359 recorded since 1921.
Social Security Administration records show Iran recorded 1,359 times among boys since 1921, holding rank #9101 nationally today, ahead of 36% of boys, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1921 to 2025.
- #9101 among boys today
- 1,359 born since 1921
- 1970s peak decade
- 36% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Iran is currently the #9101 unisex name in America, more common than 36% of boys - 1,359 born since 1921, peaking in the 1970s.
- #9101
- among boys today
- 1,359
- born since 1921
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Iran vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9101
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 36% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
19% of everyone ever named Iran was born in this single decade.
1978
Single peak year
36 babies were named Iran in 1978 - its busiest year on record.
How Iran compares
1,359 Top 26% higher than 74% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Iran's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Iran | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,359 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 36 | 23 | 22,252 |
Iran's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Iran splits its recorded history at 1984: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1921 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1978 peak of 36 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Iran at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1978
Current rank
#9,101
Active since
1921
Iran popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1921–2025
- Peak year (1978)
- 36
- Annual births at peak, across 105 years of records
Iran popularity over time - girls
416 total births recorded since 1962 (Iran as girls' name)
Iran by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Iran's strongest decade.
259 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.
Iran births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 26
1920s
26 births
- 1930s 5
1930s
5 births
- 1940s 31
1940s
31 births
- 1950s 82
1950s
82 births
- 1960s
1960s
159 births
- 1970s
1970s
259 births
- 1980s
1980s
181 births
- 1990s
1990s
208 births
- 2000s
2000s
228 births
- 2010s
2010s
121 births
- 2020s 59
2020s
59 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 259 births (19% of all-time use).
How Iran compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Iran's total volume
Iran vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Iran by state
Where Iran concentrates geographically, total births since 1921
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 116 | 8.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 54 | 4.0% |
| #3 | New York | | 27 | 2.0% |
| #4 | Florida | | 6 | 0.4% |
California share of Iran's total US births 8.5%
Even split
116 of 1,359 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Iran? ▼
1,359 babies have been named Iran since 1921. It currently ranks #9101 among boys. The peak year was 1978 with 36 births.
When was Iran most popular? ▼
Iran was most popular in the 1970s decade with 259 total births. The single peak year was 1978.
Where is Iran most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Iran are California (116 births), Texas (54 births), New York (27 births).
Is Iran a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Iran is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,359 births, and as a girl's name it has 416 births.
How long has the name Iran been used? ▼
Records for Iran go back to 1921, giving 105 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Iran? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ira, Iram, Irah, Iraj, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Iran's data
- Iran's decade-level peak was the 1970s (259 total births); usage has since declined to 59 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Irans (116 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Iran
Nearby Names Like Iran
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Iran
Ira Boy
#969 55,410 births
Iram Boy
#3182 917 births
Irah Boy
#7190 86 births
Iraj Boy
#8896 19 births
Irav Boy
#10893 7 births
Compare Iran side by side: Iran vs Ira Iran vs Iram Iran vs Irah
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Iran
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1921–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Iran: #9101 Unisex Name - 1,359 Births, Peak 1978." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/iran. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Iran draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.