Amara Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-MAH-rah /əˈmɑːrə/
Origin: Igbo; Latin; Sanskrit
Meaning: Igbo: grace; Latin: immortal; Sanskrit: eternal
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Amara has its roots in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Igbo language of Nigeria, where it means "grace" or "mercy." The name is also found in Sanskrit, where it translates to "immortal" or "eternal." This dual etymology highlights the name's rich cultural significance across different societies. The journey of Amara into English is less direct, as it has primarily been adopted through cultural exchanges and the diaspora of African and Indian communities, rather than through a linear linguistic evolution typical of many Western names.
Historically, the name Amara has been associated with various figures and concepts across cultures. In the context of Igbo culture, it is often linked to the values of kindness and compassion, reflecting the importance of these traits within the community.
In Sanskrit literature, the notion of immortality associated with Amara has philosophical implications, often tied to spiritual beliefs and the quest for eternal life. While there are no specific biblical or royal figures named Amara, the name's presence in significant cultural texts and its adoption in various religious contexts contribute to its historical resonance.
Culturally, Amara embodies themes of grace and eternity, making it a name that carries deep symbolic weight. Its associations with mercy in Igbo culture and immortality in Sanskrit highlight the universal human concerns of kindness and the desire for lasting legacy.
The name has also seen variations and diminutives in different cultures, although these are less documented in historical texts. Overall, Amara stands as a name that transcends its linguistic origins, embodying values that resonate across diverse cultures and epochs.
Famous people named Amara
In this section, you will find notable people named Amara. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Amara who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Amara who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Amara Karan is an actress best known for The Darjeeling Limited, St. Trinian's, and The Last Days on Mars.
Amara Miller is an actress best known for The Descendants, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and The Last House on the Left.
Fictional characters named Amara
The following list of fictional characters named Amara is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Amara is a fictional character from the TV series Supernatural. She is an ancient and powerful entity known as the Darkness, representing chaos and destruction.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Amara, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Amara. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Amara was first seen in the United States in 1961.
Amara has ranked as high as #267 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Amara has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Amara is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Amara was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Amara (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 299 | |
| TX | 252 | |
| FL | 158 | |
| NY | 109 | |
| OH | 94 | |
| NC | 92 | |
| PA | 76 | |
| IL | 69 | |
| WA | 60 | |
| VA | 57 | |
| IN | 56 | |
| AZ | 54 | |
| NJ | 52 | |
| GA | 48 | |
| TN | 46 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Amara.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,288 |
| 2023 | 2,280 |
| 2022 | 2,046 |
| 2021 | 1,920 |
| 2020 | 1,918 |
| 2019 | 1,996 |
| 2018 | 1,587 |
| 2017 | 1,500 |
| 2016 | 1,085 |
| 2015 | 691 |
| 2014 | 607 |
| 2013 | 497 |
| 2012 | 514 |
| 2011 | 491 |
| 2010 | 447 |
| 2009 | 516 |
| 2008 | 534 |
| 2007 | 522 |
| 2006 | 511 |
| 2005 | 501 |
| 2004 | 456 |
| 2003 | 406 |
| 2002 | 297 |
| 2001 | 263 |
| 2000 | 287 |
| 1999 | 197 |
| 1998 | 179 |
| 1997 | 169 |
| 1996 | 146 |
| 1995 | 139 |
| 1994 | 115 |
| 1993 | 103 |
| 1992 | 114 |
| 1991 | 107 |
| 1990 | 131 |
| 1989 | 77 |
| 1988 | 66 |
| 1987 | 68 |
| 1986 | 61 |
| 1985 | 62 |
| 1984 | 36 |
| 1983 | 47 |
| 1982 | 38 |
| 1981 | 38 |
| 1980 | 31 |
| 1979 | 30 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 27 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 26 |
| 1974 | 29 |
| 1973 | 14 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1970 | 17 |
| 1969 | 11 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1961 | 5 |