Declining since 2022, #9,457 for girls today.
Popularity of Lera since 1885
Babies named Lera per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lera's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 50 |
| 1890s | 124 |
| 1900s | 232 |
| 1910s | 500 |
| 1920s | 568 |
| 1930s | 308 |
| 1940s | 194 |
| 1950s | 154 |
| 1960s | 95 |
| 1970s | 56 |
| 1980s | 64 |
| 1990s | 37 |
| 2000s | 58 |
| 2010s | 103 |
| 2020s | 66 |
Meaning & origin
Lera is a rare and delicate name that first appeared on U.S. records in 1885. It reached its peak popularity in 1905, ranking as high as it ever has, yet even then it remained uncommon. Since 2022, its usage has been falling, and in 2025 it ranks 9,457, with about 1 in 160,727 female births. The name's origins are unclear; it may derive from Valeria or serve as a variant of Lora, but it has carved out a quiet identity of its own. Lera has never been tied to a specific geographic region, and no top states for the name appear in the data. Its brevity and soft sound make it feel both vintage and modern, appealing to parents seeking a name that is distinctive without being unfamiliar.
Lera is likely a modern diminutive or variant of names such as Valeria (Latin for 'strength, health') or Lora (a form of Laura, meaning 'laurel'). It has also been used as a standalone name in English-speaking countries since the late 19th century. Its usage has been relatively rare, with notable but limited popularity in the United States in the early 1900s.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Lera
Names that share Lera's style, for a brother or sister.
