Zara Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZAH-rah //ˈzɑː.rə//
Origin: Arabic; Hebrew
Meaning: Arabic: blooming flower; Hebrew: princess
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zara has its roots in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily tracing back to the Hebrew name "Zarah," which means "to shine" or "dawn." This name evolved into the Arabic "Zahra," meaning "flower" or "blossom," which further emphasizes themes of beauty and brightness. The transition into English occurred through various cultural exchanges, particularly during the medieval period, when names from Hebrew and Arabic began to permeate European languages due to trade and the spread of religious texts.
Historically, the name Zara has been associated with significant figures and texts. In the Hebrew Bible, the name is linked to the lineage of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which adds a layer of historical and religious significance.
The name also appears in various forms in Islamic tradition, where it is sometimes associated with the concept of purity and beauty. The spread of the name into European contexts can be traced through translations of biblical texts and the influence of Islamic culture during the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain and Southern France.
Culturally, Zara has resonated through various traditions and has been embraced in different forms across cultures. Its association with light and beauty has made it a favored name in literature and art, symbolizing hope and renewal.
The diminutive form "Zari" has also been used in some cultures, adding to the name's versatility and appeal. Overall, Zara's journey through languages and cultures reflects a rich tapestry of meanings and associations, contributing to its enduring presence in the historical narrative of names.
Famous people named Zara
In this section, you will find notable people named Zara. 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 Zara who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zara 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.
Zara Larsson is a singer and songwriter best known for Lush Life, Never Forget You, and Symphony.
Zara Tindall is an equestrian and Olympic medalist best known for her achievements in eventing and being a member of the British royal family.
Fictional characters named Zara
The following list of fictional characters named Zara 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.
Zara is a fictional character from the video game series Mass Effect. She is a skilled Asari commando who plays a significant role in the game's narrative.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zara, 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 Zara. 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 Zara was first seen in the United States in 1896.
Zara has ranked as high as #433 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Zara has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zara 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 Zara was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zara (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 | 154 | |
| TX | 142 | |
| FL | 99 | |
| NY | 81 | |
| PA | 66 | |
| NJ | 56 | |
| NC | 48 | |
| OH | 45 | |
| VA | 44 | |
| GA | 43 | |
| MD | 41 | |
| IL | 35 | |
| IN | 27 | |
| AZ | 26 | |
| WA | 26 |
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 Zara.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,327 |
| 2023 | 1,283 |
| 2022 | 1,438 |
| 2021 | 1,412 |
| 2020 | 1,335 |
| 2019 | 1,321 |
| 2018 | 1,281 |
| 2017 | 1,156 |
| 2016 | 1,023 |
| 2015 | 809 |
| 2014 | 765 |
| 2013 | 630 |
| 2012 | 537 |
| 2011 | 449 |
| 2010 | 393 |
| 2009 | 367 |
| 2008 | 376 |
| 2007 | 408 |
| 2006 | 312 |
| 2005 | 270 |
| 2004 | 179 |
| 2003 | 222 |
| 2002 | 145 |
| 2001 | 142 |
| 2000 | 121 |
| 1999 | 111 |
| 1998 | 90 |
| 1997 | 70 |
| 1996 | 81 |
| 1995 | 64 |
| 1994 | 74 |
| 1993 | 52 |
| 1992 | 48 |
| 1991 | 53 |
| 1990 | 66 |
| 1989 | 50 |
| 1988 | 38 |
| 1987 | 37 |
| 1986 | 47 |
| 1985 | 31 |
| 1984 | 26 |
| 1983 | 42 |
| 1982 | 26 |
| 1981 | 27 |
| 1980 | 31 |
| 1979 | 28 |
| 1978 | 26 |
| 1977 | 18 |
| 1976 | 17 |
| 1975 | 26 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1972 | 18 |
| 1971 | 15 |
| 1970 | 19 |
| 1969 | 10 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1966 | 6 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 8 |
| 1960 | 7 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 5 |
| 1956 | 13 |
| 1955 | 9 |
| 1954 | 10 |
| 1953 | 8 |
| 1952 | 7 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1949 | 10 |
| 1947 | 10 |
| 1946 | 12 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 7 |
| 1942 | 13 |
| 1940 | 11 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 11 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1933 | 8 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 10 |
| 1925 | 14 |
| 1924 | 12 |
| 1923 | 8 |
| 1922 | 11 |
| 1921 | 14 |
| 1920 | 11 |
| 1919 | 11 |
| 1918 | 9 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1916 | 9 |
| 1915 | 21 |
| 1914 | 12 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 11 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 9 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1900 | 9 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1896 | 5 |