Tareq

A boy's name of Arabic origin with 357 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Arabic.

Tareq is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, a variant of Tariq, from the Arabic root meaning 'he who knocks at the door' or 'morning star' — associated with the star that appears before dawn, symbolizing guidance and new beginnings.

Tariq/Tareq is one of the great Arabic names, borne by Tariq ibn Ziyad — the Berber general who led the Muslim conquest of Iberia in 711 CE, crossing the strait at Gibraltar (Jabal al-Tariq, 'mountain of Tariq'). The name carries that extraordinary historical legacy.

EtymologyShow more

Tareq is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Arabic naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.

The interplay of consonants and vowels in Tareq creates its characteristic sharp, distinct quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

357

Total births

Since 1980

1991

Peak year

14 births

Compare Tareq with another name

Popularity Over Time

Tareq has 40+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1980.

First appeared: 1980Peak: 1991 (14 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Tareq
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	17	#9781	▼
2010s	83	#9782	▼
2000s	103	#7580	▲
1990s	101	#6075	▲
1980s	53	#6339	—

The Story of Tareq

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1991, Tareq is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Tareq are most likely born between 1981 and 2001.

How rare is Tareq?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tareq is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1980, peaked in the 2000s with 103 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Tareq by the numbers

Would fill 7 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(40 years, 1980–2022)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Tareq
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2022	11	#7703	+5 (83.3%)
2020	6	#11858	+1 (20.0%)
2019	5	#13902	-5 (-50.0%)
2018	10	#8083	+1 (11.1%)
2017	9	#8752	0
2016	9	#8722	+3 (50.0%)
2015	6	#11919	0
2014	6	#11942	-2 (-25.0%)
2013	8	#9556	0
2012	8	#9601	-1 (-11.1%)
2011	9	#8679	-4 (-30.8%)
2010	13	#6661	+2 (18.2%)
2009	11	#7632	-1 (-8.3%)
2008	12	#7135	+4 (50.0%)
2007	8	#9674	+1 (14.3%)
2006	7	#10526	-4 (-36.4%)
2005	11	#7047	-1 (-8.3%)
2004	12	#6472	-1 (-7.7%)
2003	13	#5845	+2 (18.2%)
2002	11	#6475	+1 (10.0%)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tareq is primarily a boy's name.

When was Tareq most popular?

Tareq reached its peak popularity in 1991 with 14 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Tareq?

Tareq is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 357 babies in the U.S. since 1980. Its peak was in 1991.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginArabic names By EndingNames in -q TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1980–2022