How to say it
za · IRE
zɑːˈɪər
Masculine
Zaire
River that swallows rivers
What it means
From the Kikongo nzere, 'river that swallows all rivers'; the old name of the Congo.
Zaire is the historic name of the Congo and its mighty river, from the Kikongo nzere, described as 'the river that swallows all rivers.' Strong and flowing, it is the original behind the trendy respelling Zyaire. Basketball's Zaire Wade, son of Dwyane Wade, gave it a fresh profile. Said zah-EER.
How to spell Zaire
The standard spelling is Zaire. Common variants include Zyaire, Zaihre, Zayire, but Zaire is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #466 in 2023, currently #503 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
The original behind the respelling Zyaire.
- Pop culture
Zaire Wade, son of NBA star Dwyane Wade.
Spelling variants
- Zyaire
- Zaihre
- Zayire
Names with the same feeling
See Zaire from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Zaire mean?
- From the Kikongo nzere, 'river that swallows all rivers'; the old name of the Congo.
- What does Zaire mean in African?
- In African, Zaire means "River that swallows rivers." Zaire is the historic name of the Congo and its mighty river, from the Kikongo nzere, described as 'the river that swallows all rivers.' Strong and flowing, it is the original behind the trendy respelling Zyaire. Basketball's Zaire Wade, son of Dwyane Wade, gave it a fresh profile. Said zah-EER.
- How do you pronounce Zaire?
- Zaire is pronounced zɑːˈɪər. Say it as za-IRE, with the stress on the "ire" syllable.
- How do you spell Zaire?
- The standard spelling is Zaire. Common spelling variants include Zyaire, Zaihre, Zayire.
- Is Zaire a boy or girl name?
- Zaire is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Zaire?
- Zaire ranked #503 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.