Unisex · #1,177 in 2026

Kashmir

Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range.

Current Rank
#1,177
Peak Rank
#1,151 (2022)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
+70%
👧 Girl peak #5,399 (577 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,151 (2K total)
👦As Boy Name
2001
First Year
2026
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#1151
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
23
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1982
First Year
2026
Last Year
2015
Peak Year
#5399
Peak Rank
577
Total Count
43
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kashmir

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The word Kashmir is thought to have been derived from Sanskrit and was referred to as káśmīra . A popular local etymology of Kashmir is that it is land desiccated from water. An alternative etymology derives the name from the name of the Vedic sage Kashyapa who is believed to have settled people in this land. Accordingly, Kashmir would be derived from either kashyapa-mir (Kashyapa's Lake) or kashyapa-meru (Kashyapa's Mountain). The word has been referenced to in a Hindu scripture mantra worshipping the Hindu goddess Sharada and is mentioned to have resided in the land of kashmira , or which mi
Origin & history
For a history of the region including the pre-19th century period, see History of Kashmir , History of Gilgit-Baltistan , and History of Ladakh . 6th century Kashmir sculpture of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. In the first half of the first millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Hinduism and later of Buddhism . During the 7th–14th centuries, the region was ruled by a series of Hindu dynasties, and Kashmir Shaivism arose. In 1320, Rinchan Shah became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Kashmir Sultanate . The region was part of the Mughal Empire from 1586 to 17

The Story of Kashmir

As a girl name

Kashmir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1982, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 23 Kashmirs were born — ranking #5,653 that year. As of 2026, Kashmir ranks #6,597 for girls with 17 births, gradually rising (+7%). In total, more than 577 Kashmirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Kashmir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2001, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 180 Kashmirs were born — ranking #1,151 that year. As of 2026, Kashmir ranks #1,177 for boys with 176 births, rising sharply (+70% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Kashmirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Kashmir

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kashmir is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Kashmere
  • Cashmere
  • Cashmore
  • Cashier
  • Kashmiri
  • Calmar
  • Cochere
  • Cashmeres
  • Cashman
  • Comare
  • Comair
  • Cashes

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kashmir

What does the name Kashmir mean?
Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range.
How popular is Kashmir in 2026?
In 2026, Kashmir ranks #1,177 among boys' names in the U.S., with 176 babies given the name that year.
When was Kashmir most popular?
Kashmir reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #1,151 that year with 180 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Kashmir most popular?
Kashmir has historically been most popular in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Kashmir.
Is Kashmir a unisex name?
Yes — Kashmir is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 27% of Kashmirs assigned female and 73% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Kashmir?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kashmir include Dolphus, Tylar, Alcide. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Kashmir

Kashmir is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2001 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Kashmir's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #1,151. Use the chart and map above to compare Kashmir's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.