Total births
169
Boys' name · since 1996
Zarif
Since 1996, U.S. Social Security records show 169 babies named Zarif, peaking in 2009. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11517
- among boys today
- 169
- born since 1996
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 19%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Zarif is the #11517 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 169 recorded since 1996.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Zarif has been recorded 169 times among boys since 1996, currently ranked #11517 nationally and more common than 19% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1996 to 2024.
- #11517 among boys today
- 169 born since 1996
- 2010s peak decade
- 19% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Zarif is currently the #11517 boys' name in America, more common than 19% of boys - 169 born since 1996, peaking in the 2010s.
- #11517
- among boys today
- 169
- born since 1996
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 19%
- more common than other boys
Zarif vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11517
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 19% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
50% of everyone ever named Zarif was born in this single decade.
2009
Single peak year
14 babies were named Zarif in 2009 - its busiest year on record.
How Zarif compares
169 35th percentile among 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
Zarif's all-time total is 54% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Zarif | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 169 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 14 | 23 | 22,252 |
Zarif's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Zarif's full recorded timeline at 2012, 53% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 47% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1996, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2009 peak of 14 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Zarif at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2009
Current rank
#11,517
Active since
1996
Zarif popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1996–2024
- Peak year (2009)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 29 years of records
Zarif by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Zarif's strongest decade.
85 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 50% of all-time use.
Zarif births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s 10
1990s
10 births
- 2000s
2000s
51 births
- 2010s
2010s
85 births
- 2020s 23
2020s
23 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 85 births (50% of all-time use).
Zarif by state
Where Zarif concentrates geographically, total births since 1996
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 14 | 8.3% |
New York share of Zarif's total US births 8.3%
14 of 169 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zarif? ▼
Since 1996, Social Security records show 169 babies named Zarif. Today it holds rank #11517 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2009, with 14 births.
When was Zarif most popular? ▼
Zarif was most popular in the 2010s decade with 85 total births. The single peak year was 2009.
Where is Zarif most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Zarif are New York (14 births).
How long has the name Zarif been used? ▼
Records for Zarif go back to 1996, giving 29 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Zarif? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zarek, Zarion, Zarian, Zarius, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zarif's data
- Zarif's decade-level peak was the 2010s (85 total births); usage has since declined to 23 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Zarifs (14 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York 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 Zarif
Nearby Names Like Zarif
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zarif
Zarek Boy
#4027 1,113 births
Zarion Boy
#7048 471 births
Zarian Boy
#7993 376 births
Zarius Boy
#12921 327 births
Zaryan Boy
#7587 263 births
Compare Zarif side by side: Zarif vs Zarek Zarif vs Zarion Zarif vs Zarian
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Zarif
Radwan #11516
146 births · Peak 2008
Amitai #11518
189 births · Peak 2008
Nebiyu #11515
50 births · Peak 2012
Chibuike #11519
122 births · Peak 2006
Macallister #11514
271 births · Peak 2008
Mataeo #11520
121 births · Peak 2025
Kiren #11513
203 births · Peak 2011
Abdulhakeem #11521
72 births · Peak 2012
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, 1996–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zarif: #11517 Boys' Name - 169 Births, Peak 2009." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zarif. 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 Zarif 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.