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At a Glance: Name: Altair – Meaning: the flying eagle (referring to the star Alpha Aquilae) – Origin: Arabic – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: al-TAIR
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.
How to Pronounce Altair
Phonetic: al-TAIR IPA: /ælˈtaɪər/
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, 2008–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Altair mean?
The flying eagle (referring to the star Alpha Aquilae). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Altair)
How do you pronounce Altair?
Altair is pronounced al-TAIR (IPA: /ælˈtaɪər/).
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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