A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Tahira since 1970
Babies named Tahira per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 269 |
| 1980s | 225 |
| 1990s | 246 |
| 2000s | 183 |
| 2010s | 239 |
| 2020s | 136 |
Meaning & origin
Tahira is an Arabic name meaning 'pure' or 'virtuous,' belonging to a family of names rooted in the concept of cleanliness and spiritual purity. First recorded in the United States in 1970, it saw its peak popularity in 1975, and after decades of lower usage, it has been rising steadily since 2009. In 2025, the name ranked 6,546 with an estimated 1 in 94,545 girls receiving the name that year. While not common, its steady ascent suggests growing appreciation for its melodic sound and meaningful origins. The name carries strong cultural resonance across the Arabic-speaking world and South Asian Muslim communities, where it remains a favored choice without breaking into mainstream Western popularity.
Tahira is the feminine form of Tahir, derived from the Arabic root ṭ-h-r (ط-ه-ر), meaning purity and cleanliness. It has been used across the Arabic-speaking world and among Muslim populations globally, with particular favor in South Asia. The name appears in the Quran in a related form, often associated with spiritual purity.
“Tahira” around the world
Where Tahira lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tahi, Hira, Tara
Sibling names for Tahira
Names that share Tahira's style, for a brother or sister.
