Holding steady, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Fara since 1914
Babies named Fara per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 12 |
| 1920s | 42 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 13 |
| 1950s | 112 |
| 1960s | 180 |
| 1970s | 269 |
| 1980s | 149 |
| 1990s | 73 |
| 2000s | 75 |
| 2010s | 117 |
| 2020s | 39 |
Meaning & origin
Fara is a name with multiple possible origins, most commonly associated with the Arabic Farah, meaning 'joy.' It entered U.S. records in 1914, but its peak popularity came in 1977, when it saw its highest annual usage. In the latest data from 2025, Fara ranked 13,208, with about 1 in 267,878 babies receiving the name. Its trajectory is described as stable, suggesting consistent but rare use over recent decades. The name has not been strongly concentrated in any particular U.S. state, reflecting its broad but sparse distribution. As a feminine name with possible Scandinavian roots as well, Fara offers a cross-cultural choice that remains uncommon yet familiar.
The name Fara is likely a variant of Farah, an Arabic name meaning 'joy' or 'happiness', derived from the root f-r-h (to be glad). It may also be a Scandinavian short form of Old Norse names like Faraldr, composed of 'fara' (journey) and 'valdr' (ruler). In English, it has been used as a given name since the early 20th century, likely influenced by the Arabic form, and has maintained modest usage in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Farah, Faraa
Sibling names for Fara
Names that share Fara's style, for a brother or sister.
