Shareef: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#8,806

among boys · ↑1,953 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Shareef

How common

1 in 189,786

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1997

53 babies

All-time total

1,196

#4,597 all-time among boys

First recorded

1974

in Social Security records

Shareef popularity over time

1,196 babies have been named Shareef since 1974, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	147	15	–	#1,663
1980s	242	24	+65%	#1,588
1990s	314	31	+30%	#1,808
2000s	267	27	-15%	#2,249
2010s	160	16	-40%	#3,885
2020s (to 2025)	66	11	-31%	#5,007

The story of Shareef

Shareef is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,806 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1974, 1,196 American babies have been named Shareef. Its peak came in 1997, when 53 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shareef stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shareef?

The median living Shareef is about 28 years old; half are between 18 and 39. An estimated 1,200 people named Shareef are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shareef year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	9	#8,806
2024	7	#10,759
2023	8	#9,609
2022	8	#9,698
2021	15	#5,986
2020	19	#5,007
2019	28	#3,885
2018	13	#6,647
2017	13	#6,613
2016	14	#6,298
2015	13	#6,619
2014	19	#5,031
2013	17	#5,358
2012	20	#4,832
2011	11	#7,426
2010	12	#7,026
2009	18	#5,277
2008	21	#4,681
2007	28	#3,776
2006	25	#3,980
2005	23	#4,038
2004	22	#4,113
2003	25	#3,612
2002	28	#3,248
2001	33	#2,853
2000	44	#2,249
1995	29	#2,617
1990	26	#2,616
1985	30	#1,963
1980	38	#1,588
1975	16	#2,622
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Shareef

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Shareef Abdur-Rahim American basketball player (born 1976) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shareef, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shareef?

The median living Shareef is about 28 years old. Half of all living Shareefs are between 18 and 39 years old.

How many people named Shareef are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Shareef are alive in the United States, based on 1,196 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shareef in 2025?

Shareef ranked #8,806 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Shareef?

1,196 babies have been named Shareef in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shareef most popular?

Shareef peaked in 1997, when 53 newborns received the name.

Is Shareef a boy or girl name?

Shareef is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shareef rising or falling?

Shareef is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Shareef?

Well-known people named Shareef include Shareef Abdur-Rahim (basketball player).

Names like Shareef

Names that sound and feel close to Shareef: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shareef with similar names → More names starting with S →