Unisex · #10,726 in 2026

Shiraz

Shiraz is the fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which is historically known by the exonym Persia proper. As of the 2016 national census, the population of the city was 1,565,572 people, and its built-up area with Sadra was home to almost 1,800,000 inhabitants. A census in 2021 showed an increase in the city's population to 1,995,500 people.

Current Rank
#10,726
Peak Rank
#4,404 (1979)
Total Babies
119
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #10,690 (57 total)
👦 Boy peak #4,404 (119 total)
👦As Boy Name
1979
First Year
2013
Last Year
1979
Peak Year
#4404
Peak Rank
119
Total Count
19
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1998
First Year
2013
Last Year
2004
Peak Year
#10690
Peak Rank
57
Total Count
9
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Shiraz

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

Shiraz is the fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which is historically known by the exonym Persia proper. As of the 2016 national census, the population of the city was 1,565,572 people, and its built-up area with Sadra was home to almost 1,800,000 inhabitants. A census in 2021 showed an increase in the city's population to 1,995,500 people.

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

Etymology
Shiraz in a photo by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield from the ISS on 20 March 2013 (1392 Nowruz ) The earliest reference to the city is on Elamite clay tablets dated to 2000 BCE, found in June 1970, while digging to make a kiln for a brick factory in the south western corner of the city. The tablets written in ancient Elamite name a city called Tiraziš. Phonetically , this is interpreted as /tiračis/ or /ćiračis/. This name became Old Persian /širājiš/; through regular sound change comes the modern Persian name Shirāz . The name Shiraz also appears on clay sealings found at a 2nd-century CE
Origin & history
Main articles: History of Shiraz and Timeline of Shiraz

The Story of Shiraz

As a girl name

Shiraz first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1998, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 9 Shirazs were born — ranking #10,690 that year. As of 2026, Shiraz ranks #16,544 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 57 Shirazs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Shiraz first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1979, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1979, when 8 Shirazs were born — ranking #4,404 that year. As of 2026, Shiraz ranks #10,726 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 119 Shirazs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Shiraz

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

  • Sherries
  • Sherrys
  • Shears
  • Sheers
  • Shearers
  • Shirazi
  • Giros
  • Tiras
  • Shares
  • Sharers
  • Showers
  • Shores

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shiraz

What does the name Shiraz mean?
Shiraz is the fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which is historically known by the exonym Persia proper. As of the 2016 national census, the population of the city was 1,565,572 people, and its built-up area with Sadra was home to almost 1,800,000 inhabitants. A census in 2021 showed an increase in the city's population to 1,995,500 people.
How popular is Shiraz in 2026?
In 2026, Shiraz ranks #10,726 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Shiraz most popular?
Shiraz reached its peak popularity in 1979, ranking #4,404 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Shiraz a unisex name?
Yes — Shiraz is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 32% of Shirazs assigned female and 68% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Shiraz?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Shiraz include Ran, Artemas, Mardell. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Shiraz

Shiraz is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 119 births in the dataset. Shiraz's peak popularity came in 1979 when it ranked #4,404. Use the chart and map above to compare Shiraz'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.