Cairo Boy

Popularity: #323 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KY-roh //ˈkaɪ.roʊ//

Origin: Arabic; Egyptian

Meaning: Arabic: 'victorious'; Egyptian: 'the city of the sun'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cairo has its roots in Arabic, derived from the word "al-Qāhirah," which translates to "the victorious." This name was given to the city of Cairo, founded in the 10th century CE, and reflects the city's historical significance as a center of power and culture in the Islamic world. The Arabic term itself is a combination of the root "q-h-r," which conveys the idea of overcoming or conquering.

The name was adopted into various languages, including English, primarily through the influence of historical texts and the prominence of the city in global affairs, particularly during the Middle Ages. Cairo's historical milestones are deeply intertwined with the rise of Islamic civilization.

The city became the capital of Egypt under the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th century and served as a major hub for trade, scholarship, and the arts. It was during this period that Cairo flourished, attracting scholars and artists from across the Islamic world.

The city is also notable for its architectural achievements, including the construction of the Al-Azhar Mosque and the Cairo Citadel, which further solidified its status as a cultural and political center. The name Cairo carries significant cultural resonance, symbolizing strength and resilience.

It is often associated with the rich history of Egypt, encompassing ancient civilizations and the Islamic Golden Age. The name evokes images of a vibrant city that has withstood the test of time, embodying both historical depth and cultural richness.

While diminutive forms of the name are not widely recognized, the connection to the city itself imbues the name with a sense of grandeur and historical importance, making it a noteworthy choice in various cultural contexts.

Fictional characters named Cairo

The following list of fictional characters named Cairo is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Cairo is a fictional character from the film The Mummy. He is a member of the Medjai, a group dedicated to protecting the world from ancient evils.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cairo, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cairo. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cairo was first seen in the United States in 1979.

Cairo has ranked as high as #588 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Cairo has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cairo is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cairo was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cairo.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,000 965 35
2024 987 949 38
2023 1,058 1,010 48
2022 1,157 1,101 56
2021 1,088 1,020 68
2020 971 918 53
2019 1,048 976 72
2018 572 543 29
2017 418 404 14
2016 283 267 16
2015 231 223 8
2014 187 173 14
2013 163 157 6
2012 115 105 10
2011 105 93 12
2010 51 46 5
2009 63 58 5
2008 50 45 5
2007 47 36 11
2006 58 51 7
2005 42 42 0
2004 24 24 0
2003 23 23 0
2002 27 21 6
2001 24 19 5
2000 34 25 9
1999 21 13 8
1998 26 17 9
1997 15 9 6
1996 26 13 13
1995 15 10 5
1994 20 9 11
1993 6 6 0
1992 7 7 0
1991 6 6 0
1990 7 7 0
1989 7 7 0
1988 6 6 0
1980 5 5 0
1979 6 6 0

Top States for Cairo (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 98
11%
FL 87
9%
TX 83
9%
NY 66
7%
GA 64
7%
NC 53
6%
PA 37
4%
MD 36
4%
OH 35
4%
VA 33
4%
NJ 32
3%
IL 30
3%
MI 24
3%
SC 21
2%
TN 20
2%
MA 19
2%
LA 18
2%
MO 15
2%
AZ 14
2%
MN 13
1%
CT 13
1%
WA 12
1%
IN 12
1%
NV 11
1%
OK 10
1%
MS 10
1%
CO 9
1%
DC 9
1%
KY 8
1%
WI 7
1%
UT 5
1%
AL 5
1%
HI 5
1%
RI 5
1%
NM 5
1%
DE 5
1%