Declining since 1985, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Tarah since 1963
Babies named Tarah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 37 |
| 1970s | 687 |
| 1980s | 2,182 |
| 1990s | 1,177 |
| 2000s | 430 |
| 2010s | 178 |
| 2020s | 46 |
Meaning & origin
Tarah is a respelling of the classic Irish name Tara, which saw a surge in the English-speaking world after the 1939 novel 'Gone With the Wind'. First recorded in the United States in 1963, Tarah reached its peak popularity in 1984, likely reflecting the broader trend of creative spelling variations in the 1970s and 1980s. Since 1985, its usage has been steadily falling, and as of 2025 it ranks 13,208th with a birth rate of 1 in 267,878. The name remains a distinct alternative to the more common Tara, offering a slightly modern twist while retaining the same earthy, historical roots.
Tarah is a variant spelling of Tara, an Irish name derived from the Gaelic 'Teamhair', meaning 'elevated place' or 'hill'. In Irish mythology, Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. The name also gained popularity in the English-speaking world through Margaret Mitchell's novel 'Gone With the Wind' (1939), where Tara was the name of the O'Hara family plantation. The spelling Tarah emerged as a modern respelling, particularly in the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tara, T
Sibling names for Tarah
Names that share Tarah's style, for a brother or sister.
