Zair is a short name of uncertain origin; it is usually explained through the Arabic word za'ir, "visitor" or "pilgrim", and it also echoes the former country name Zaire and the Arabic Zahir, "shining". American parents mostly choose it for its sound, a Z-name in the family of Zaire and Zayn. In the United States Zair ranked number 10329 in 2000, hovered in the 3000s for years and reached its best rank so far, number 2603, in 2025 with 51 boys.