Hajar
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 719 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name in Hausa, from Arabic
Hajar is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin, the Arabic form of Hagar, from the Hebrew or possibly Egyptian root, meaning 'stranger' or 'one who flees.' In the Quran and Bible, Hajar was the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and mother of Isma'il (Ishmael) — ancestor of the Arab peoples.
Hajar is one of the most revered women in Islamic tradition — her desperate search for water for her infant son in the desert between the hills of Safa and Marwa is commemorated in the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, where pilgrims retrace her steps. Her story is one of profound faith and survival. As a given name, Hajar carries extraordinary spiritual weight in Muslim communities worldwide.
EtymologyShow more
Hajar appeared in SSA records in 1981, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Arabic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Hajar’s 719 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Hajar climbed 580 spots in the last 20 years — from #5632 to #5052.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 124 | #5204 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 273 | #5084 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 237 | #5525 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 73 | #8937 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 12 | #9990 | — |
The Story of Hajar
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2010, Hajar is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Hajar are most likely born between 2000 and 2020.
How rare is Hajar?
Only about 1 in every 138,462 babies born in 2024 was named Hajar — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1981, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 273 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Hajar by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Hajar per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(34 years, 1981–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | #5052 |
| 2023 | 24 | #5292 |
| 2022 | 24 | #5372 |
| 2021 | 28 | #4761 |
| 2020 | 22 | #5541 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5205 |
| 2018 | 24 | #5370 |
| 2017 | 26 | #5101 |
| 2016 | 22 | #5861 |
| 2015 | 23 | #5721 |
| 2014 | 28 | #4943 |
| 2013 | 34 | #4279 |
| 2012 | 24 | #5611 |
| 2011 | 31 | #4611 |
| 2010 | 36 | #4139 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5603 |
| 2008 | 24 | #5827 |
| 2007 | 31 | #4730 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5141 |
| 2005 | 21 | #5887 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hajar a boy's or girl's name?
When was Hajar most popular?
How popular is the name Hajar?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1981–2024