Declining since 2021, #3,249 for girls today.
Popularity of Ara since 1880
Babies named Ara per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2022, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ara's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 141 | 0 |
| 1890s | 195 | 5 |
| 1900s | 215 | 0 |
| 1910s | 375 | 53 |
| 1920s | 389 | 110 |
| 1930s | 224 | 76 |
| 1940s | 162 | 37 |
| 1950s | 105 | 34 |
| 1960s | 119 | 135 |
| 1970s | 190 | 242 |
| 1980s | 228 | 175 |
| 1990s | 141 | 139 |
| 2000s | 234 | 97 |
| 2010s | 488 | 110 |
| 2020s | 359 | 88 |
Meaning & origin
Ara is a short, cross-cultural name with multiple possible origins, including Arabic and Armenian roots. Its peak year in U.S. usage was 1884, and it has been given to both boys and girls since at least 1880. As of 2025, its rank is 3249, with about 1 in 33,485 births. The name has shown a slight decrease in popularity from 2021 onward, and it is most commonly found in California and Texas. Despite its low frequency, Ara remains a distinctive choice with a soft sound and multicultural appeal.
Ara has multiple potential origins. In Arabic, it may derive from رأي (ra'y) meaning 'opinion' or 'view', or from زينة (zīna) meaning 'ornament'. In Armenian, it is short for Araks or Araxi, meaning 'crown' or 'royal'. It is also a short form of names like Arabella or Araminta in English-speaking contexts. The name has seen sporadic use in the United States since the 1880s.
Where Ara is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Ara
Names that share Ara's style, for a brother or sister.
