Ara Unisex

Popularity: #900 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-rah //ˈɑːrə//

Origin: Hebrew; Arabic; Armenian

Meaning: Hebrew: 'lioness'; Arabic: 'bringer of light'; Armenian: 'the one who is noble'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ara has roots in multiple linguistic traditions, with its earliest forms traceable to the Hebrew word 'אֲרָה' (Arah), which means 'to be noble' or 'to be exalted.' This Hebrew term influenced its adoption into various cultures, including the Greek and Latin languages, where it maintained similar meanings associated with nobility and elevation. The name eventually made its way into English, likely through the influence of biblical texts and translations, where it was sometimes rendered in forms that reflected its original meanings.

Historically, the name Ara appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the genealogies found in the Book of Chronicles, where it is associated with notable figures. The presence of the name in biblical texts has contributed to its enduring significance in Jewish and Christian traditions.

During the Middle Ages, the name was occasionally adopted by saints and other religious figures, further embedding it within the cultural and spiritual fabric of these communities. Culturally, Ara has been associated with themes of nobility and virtue, which have resonated through various artistic and literary works over the centuries.

The name has also been linked to the concept of divine favor, making it a choice for those seeking a name with positive connotations. In some cultures, diminutive forms or variations of Ara have emerged, reflecting affection or familiarity, although these are less documented in historical texts.

Overall, the name Ara carries a rich tapestry of meanings and associations that have allowed it to persist through time.

Famous people named Ara

In this section, you will find notable people named Ara. 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 Ara who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Ara 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.

Ara Parseghian is a former American football coach best known for coaching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and winning two national championships.

Ara Abrahamian is a Swedish wrestler best known for winning multiple European and World Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Fictional characters named Ara

The following list of fictional characters named Ara 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.

Ara is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. They are a character encountered in the game, contributing to the storyline and world-building.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ara, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MiraNoraZaraLaraTara

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ara. 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.

AvaEllaAriaAliaZaraLilaMayaKira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ara was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Ara has ranked as high as #3714 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Alabama, New York, and Tennessee.

In the past 5 years the name Ara has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ara 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 Ara was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Ara.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 58 10 48
2024 65 14 51
2023 72 20 52
2022 87 9 78
2021 93 18 75
2020 72 17 55
2019 70 16 54
2018 74 12 62
2017 79 17 62
2016 66 13 53
2015 59 10 49
2014 56 7 49
2013 52 10 42
2012 64 9 55
2011 38 10 28
2010 40 6 34
2009 40 10 30
2008 39 13 26
2007 29 7 22
2006 42 13 29
2005 41 14 27
2004 27 8 19
2003 26 6 20
2002 28 9 19
2001 23 10 13
2000 36 7 29
1999 28 11 17
1998 32 19 13
1997 29 16 13
1996 26 10 16
1995 24 10 14
1994 30 14 16
1993 29 17 12
1992 23 12 11
1991 32 17 15
1990 27 13 14
1989 45 21 24
1988 42 17 25
1987 31 10 21
1986 39 16 23
1985 43 21 22
1984 32 15 17
1983 38 19 19
1982 38 11 27
1981 45 18 27
1980 50 27 23
1979 44 21 23
1978 53 29 24
1977 40 21 19
1976 47 28 19
1975 58 34 24
1974 50 32 18
1973 43 24 19
1972 38 19 19
1971 37 18 19
1970 22 16 6
1969 38 26 12
1968 18 11 7
1967 31 19 12
1966 26 16 10
1965 28 13 15
1964 25 10 15
1963 34 17 17
1962 18 6 12
1961 16 6 10
1960 20 11 9
1959 14 5 9
1958 19 9 10
1957 18 8 10
1956 14 6 8
1955 9 0 9
1954 21 6 15
1953 11 0 11
1952 10 0 10
1951 10 0 10
1950 13 0 13
1949 25 6 19
1948 16 0 16
1947 11 0 11
1946 26 6 20
1945 21 0 21
1944 23 7 16
1943 22 6 16
1942 16 5 11
1941 19 7 12
1940 20 0 20
1939 23 5 18
1938 19 0 19
1937 27 5 22
1936 23 0 23
1935 36 15 21
1934 45 11 34
1933 27 9 18
1932 37 10 27
1931 39 13 26
1930 24 8 16
1929 47 19 28
1928 38 11 27
1927 44 11 33
1926 57 14 43
1925 46 11 35
1924 56 6 50
1923 49 11 38
1922 47 9 38
1921 56 10 46
1920 59 8 51
1919 48 9 39
1918 52 0 52
1917 45 5 40
1916 52 5 47
1915 55 8 47
1914 49 9 40
1913 40 6 34
1912 36 6 30
1911 23 0 23
1910 28 5 23
1909 12 0 12
1908 25 0 25
1907 27 0 27
1906 18 0 18
1905 17 0 17
1904 18 0 18
1903 23 0 23
1902 20 0 20
1901 30 0 30
1900 25 0 25
1899 12 0 12
1898 25 0 25
1897 20 0 20
1896 21 0 21
1895 22 0 22
1894 15 0 15
1893 24 5 19
1892 21 0 21
1891 18 0 18
1890 22 0 22
1889 22 0 22
1888 20 0 20
1887 16 0 16
1886 17 0 17
1885 17 0 17
1884 18 0 18
1883 7 0 7
1882 10 0 10
1881 8 0 8
1880 6 0 6

Top States for Ara (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 15
100%