Likely related to Tahir or Tahira, from Arabic roots meaning 'pure' or 'clean.'
Tahiry is a name deeply rooted in Malagasy culture, originating from the island of Madagascar, where it is widely used and carries the meaning of "treasure" or "to keep safe" — something precious that must be preserved. The Malagasy language, a member of the Austronesian family with strong Bantu and Arabic influences, gives the name its distinctive phonetic texture, and the concept of safeguarding what is valuable resonates through it. Madagascar's naming culture reflects the island's remarkable history as a crossroads of Austronesian seafarers from Borneo, Bantu migrants from mainland Africa, Arab traders, and eventually European colonizers — a layering of influences that gives Malagasy names their unique character.
Tahiry sits in that tradition as a name that feels ancient and rooted while remaining distinctly Malagasy rather than borrowed. In Madagascar, it is given to both boys and girls, though outside the island it appears primarily as a feminine name. In the wider world, Tahiry gained some recognition through Tahiry Jose, a Dominican-American model and television personality who brought the name into American popular culture in the early 2010s.
This exposure introduced Tahiry to African-American and Latino naming communities, where its musical three-syllable structure and exotic origins made it appealing. For families from the Malagasy diaspora, the name remains a powerful act of cultural continuity, connecting children born far from the island to one of the most biodiverse and culturally singular places on Earth.