Syed
How to say it: sy-ED · /saɪˈɛd/
Arabic sayyid: 'master, lord'. A title for male descendants of the Prophet Muhammad; widely used as a given name.
Syed was the 1,075th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 166 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,046 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,075 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 166 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,971 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | +4% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,046 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Usage concentrates in recent decades and crested in the 2000s. Staying close to that crest, a rise is expected ahead.
What goes with it
Crisp and breathy at once, sy ED sounds strong and steady. Omar pairs nicely alongside.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Syed is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Hindi.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #127.
Famous people named Syed
- Syed Kamall (born 1967)British politician
- Syed Kirmani (born 1949)Indian cricketer
- Syed Nazrul Islam (1925–1975)Bangladeshi politician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Syed
Find names you'll both love, starting with Syed
The one-minute style quiz.