Altair Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Altair – Meaning: the flying eagle (referring to the star Alpha Aquilae) – Origin: Arabic – Gender: used for both boys and girls

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Altair comes from Arabic and means "the flying eagle," the name for the star Alpha Aquilae. You might see it described as simply meaning "star," but that's not quite accurate — it names one specific bright star, not stars in general. For a parent weighing the name, it carries that precise, single-star reference rather than a broader meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Altair

Meaning: The flying eagle (referring to the star alpha aquilae).

Origin: Arabic.

A common claim: Often said to simply mean 'star.' Actually: It isn't the generic word for 'star' — it's Arabic for 'the flying eagle,' naming one specific bright star, not stars in general.

Source: Wiktionary.

Popularity of Altair

Across SSA records from 2008 to 2024, Altair reached its highest rank of #4063 in 2024, the year it was given to 26 babies.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data via names_full.json, 2008–2024.

Make Altair Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Altair, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names without a catalog record, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Kayani
• Amiris
• Kaziah
• Aryav
• Adir
• Keari

FAQ

What does the name Altair mean?

The flying eagle (referring to the star alpha aquilae). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Altair)

Is Altair a popular name right now?

Altair is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #4063 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 2008–2024.)

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