Is Jair a boy's or girl's name?

Jair is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 11 recorded births.

When was Jair most popular?

Jair reached its peak popularity in 2003 with 480 births that year. It is currently ranked #1170 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Jair?

Jair is currently ranked #1170 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 7,087 babies since 1971.

Jair

A Hebrew name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsHebrewDeclining

#1170▼ 120in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. A judge of Israel.

Jair is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from Ya'ir, meaning 'he enlightens' or 'he shines,' from the Hebrew root or (light). Jair appears multiple times in the Hebrew Bible — most notably as a judge of Israel who ruled for 22 years.

Popular in Hispanic and Latino communities as a modern, streamlined alternative to Jairo, Jair has a crisp, two-syllable energy and genuine biblical grounding. It's widely used in Brazil, where it gained presidential association with Jair Bolsonaro, and across Spanish-speaking Latin America.

Compare Jair with another name

Popularity Over Time

Jair was #609 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1170, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jair
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,065	#1035	▼
2010s	2,170	#963	▼
2000s	2,934	#739	▲
1990s	710	#1595	▲
1980s	154	#3435	▲
1970s	54	#4784	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(53 years, 1971–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jair
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	177	#1170	-30 (-14.5%)
2023	207	#1050	+13 (6.7%)
2022	194	#1104	-44 (-18.5%)
2021	238	#947	-11 (-4.4%)
2020	249	#903	+35 (16.4%)
2019	214	#990	+16 (8.1%)
2018	198	#1031	+19 (10.6%)
2017	179	#1092	-43 (-19.4%)
2016	222	#942	+23 (11.6%)
2015	199	#1021	-9 (-4.3%)
2014	208	#995	-56 (-21.2%)
2013	264	#821	+72 (37.5%)
2012	192	#1019	-59 (-23.5%)
2011	251	#849	+8 (3.3%)
2010	243	#868	-37 (-13.2%)
2009	280	#796	+32 (12.9%)
2008	248	#857	-33 (-11.7%)
2007	281	#777	-15 (-5.1%)
2006	296	#728	-18 (-5.7%)
2005	314	#671	-39 (-11.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Jair as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Jair has also been given to 11 girls in the U.S. since 1996.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

2002

Peak year

Compare Jair as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Jair be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Jair is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1170. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1971–2024) · Methodology