What does Bahar mean?
Bahar means “spring,” the season of renewal, in Persian.
What does Shirin mean?
Shirin means “sweet” or “charming”; she is the beloved of Persian romance.
Bahar vs Shirin
Which is more popular?
Bahar is more popular than Shirin today: about 30 US babies were given the name Bahar in 2025, compared with 15 named Shirin.
| Bahar | Shirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Spring | Sweet, charming |
| Origin | Persian | Persian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | bah-HAR | shee-REEN |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 1938 |
| Peak year | 2024 (35) | 1985 (27) |
| In 2025 | 30 | 15 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bahar
Shirin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bahar | Shirin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 155 | 67 |
| 2010s | 178 | 133 |
| 2000s | 106 | 134 |
| 1990s | 89 | 136 |
| 1980s | 63 | 176 |
| 1970s | 14 | 86 |
| 1960s | 0 | 52 |
| 1950s | 0 | 12 |
| 1930s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bahar or Shirin more popular?
Bahar is more popular than Shirin today: about 30 US babies were given the name Bahar in 2025, compared with 15 named Shirin.
What is the difference between Bahar and Shirin?
Bahar means Spring (Persian origin), while Shirin means Sweet, charming (Persian origin).
Which name is older, Bahar or Shirin?
In US records, Bahar first appears in 1977 and Shirin in 1938, so Shirin has the longer recorded history.