A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Jara since 1967
Babies named Jara per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Jara's real moment was 1980.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 126 |
| 1980s | 206 |
| 1990s | 173 |
| 2000s | 196 |
| 2010s | 85 |
| 2020s | 59 |
Meaning & origin
Jara is a short, melodic name with layered origins. While its primary derivation is as a Slavic diminutive of names like Jaroslava, symbolizing 'fierce glory,' it also exists as a Spanish nature name referring to the rockrose shrub. First recorded in the U.S. in 1967, Jara saw its peak popularity in 1980. In recent years, it has been rising in usage since 2015, reflecting a broader trend toward short, vowel-ending names. Though currently given to about 1 in every 146115 newborns, its revival marks a quiet but steady return to the naming landscape.
Jara is a name with multiple possible origins. In Slavic languages, it is often a diminutive of names beginning with 'Jaro-', such as Jaroslava, derived from the Slavic elements 'jaru' (fierce, energetic) and 'slava' (glory). Alternatively, in Spanish, 'jara' refers to a type of shrub (rockrose), and the name may have been adopted from the word. The name gained some use in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, possibly influenced by Spanish or Slavic immigration.
Sibling names for Jara
Names that share Jara's style, for a brother or sister.
