Abir
Gulal or abir is the traditional name given to the coloured powders used for some Hindu rituals, in particular for the Holi festival or Dol Purnima. During Holi, which celebrates love and equality, people throw these powder solutions at each other while singing and dancing.
Meaning & Origin of Abir
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Gulal or abir is the traditional name given to the coloured powders used for some Hindu rituals, in particular for the Holi festival or Dol Purnima. During Holi, which celebrates love and equality, people throw these powder solutions at each other while singing and dancing.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Abir
As a girl name
Abir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1987, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1990, when 8 Abirs were born — ranking #9,246 that year. As of 2026, Abir ranks #16,210 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 97 Abirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Abir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1995, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 66 Abirs were born — ranking #2,155 that year. As of 2026, Abir ranks #3,791 for boys with 29 births, falling sharply (-26%). In total, more than 715 Abirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Abir
Phonetically similar names — useful when Abir is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Abir
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About the name Abir
Abir is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1995 and has accumulated 715 births in the dataset. Abir's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #2,155. Use the chart and map above to compare Abir's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.