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Cypher
How to Pronounce Cypher
Pronounced SY-fər /ˈsaɪ.fər/High
Meaning: From the word cypher/cipher — from Arabic sifr, 'zero, empty' — 'a secret code; a zero; a monogram'Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Cypher comes from the word cypher/cipher — from Arabic sifr, 'zero, empty' (the very root of 'zero') — which grew to mean 'a secret code, a way of writing in disguise', and 'a monogram'. A bold, mysterious, modern word-name (also a hip-hop term for a freestyle circle).
It registers thinly in records. Rare, a-secret-code at the root, and mysterious.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Cypher mean?
Cypher is the word for 'a secret code; a zero' (from Arabic sifr, 'zero').
How do you pronounce Cypher?
It's said SY-fər /ˈsaɪ.fər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Cypher a boy or girl name?
Cypher is a boy's name.
How popular is Cypher?
Cypher is a very rare name in the U.S.