A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Era since 1880
Babies named Era per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Era's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 169 |
| 1890s | 522 |
| 1900s | 746 |
| 1910s | 1,207 |
| 1920s | 1,141 |
| 1930s | 554 |
| 1940s | 361 |
| 1950s | 248 |
| 1960s | 129 |
| 1970s | 104 |
| 1980s | 49 |
| 1990s | 39 |
| 2000s | 116 |
| 2010s | 268 |
| 2020s | 302 |
Meaning & origin
Era is a word name that first appeared on the U.S. popularity charts in 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data. It reached its peak rank of 2691 in 1898, during a time when abstract and virtue names were fashionable. After decades of obscurity, Era has been rising again since 1995, reflecting a modern preference for short, evocative names. The name saw renewed popularity in New York, New Jersey, and California, the top states for Era in recent years. With a current one-in-25,114 frequency, Era remains uncommon but is steadily gaining attention from parents seeking a name that is both simple and meaningful.
Era is a word name taken directly from the English noun 'era,' meaning a long and distinct period of history. It entered use as a given name in the late 19th century, possibly influenced by the fashion for virtue and abstract word names. The name saw modest early usage, peaking in 1898, and has recently been revived as parents seek short, meaningful names.
Where Era is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Era” around the world
Where Era lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Era
Names that share Era's style, for a brother or sister.
