Zara Girl

Popularity: #203 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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.

ZoeZadieZinnia

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.

ZinaZellaZadie

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Zara was first seen in the United States in 1896.

Zara has ranked as high as #463 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.

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 Total Births Girl
2025 1,432 1,432
2024 1,333 1,333
2023 1,285 1,285
2022 1,441 1,441
2021 1,413 1,413
2020 1,335 1,335
2019 1,321 1,321
2018 1,282 1,282
2017 1,157 1,157
2016 1,024 1,024
2015 809 809
2014 765 765
2013 630 630
2012 537 537
2011 449 449
2010 393 393
2009 367 367
2008 376 376
2007 408 408
2006 312 312
2005 270 270
2004 179 179
2003 222 222
2002 145 145
2001 142 142
2000 121 121
1999 111 111
1998 90 90
1997 70 70
1996 81 81
1995 64 64
1994 74 74
1993 52 52
1992 48 48
1991 53 53
1990 66 66
1989 50 50
1988 38 38
1987 37 37
1986 47 47
1985 31 31
1984 25 25
1983 42 42
1982 26 26
1981 27 27
1980 31 31
1979 28 28
1978 26 26
1977 18 18
1976 17 17
1975 26 26
1974 17 17
1973 16 16
1972 18 18
1971 15 15
1970 19 19
1969 10 10
1967 5 5
1966 6 6
1964 8 8
1963 6 6
1962 9 9
1961 8 8
1960 7 7
1959 5 5
1958 5 5
1957 5 5
1956 13 13
1955 9 9
1954 10 10
1953 8 8
1952 7 7
1950 5 5
1949 10 10
1947 10 10
1946 12 12
1945 6 6
1944 7 7
1943 7 7
1942 13 13
1940 11 11
1939 8 8
1938 11 11
1937 6 6
1935 5 5
1934 8 8
1933 8 8
1932 8 8
1931 5 5
1929 9 9
1928 10 10
1927 8 8
1926 10 10
1925 14 14
1924 12 12
1923 8 8
1922 11 11
1921 14 14
1920 11 11
1919 11 11
1918 9 9
1917 11 11
1916 9 9
1915 21 21
1914 12 12
1913 10 10
1912 11 11
1911 9 9
1910 9 9
1908 8 8
1905 6 6
1904 6 6
1900 9 9
1899 5 5
1896 5 5

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. 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 154
12%
TX 142
11%
FL 99
8%
NY 81
6%
PA 66
5%
NJ 56
4%
NC 48
4%
OH 45
3%
VA 44
3%
GA 43
3%
MD 41
3%
MI 39
3%
IL 35
3%
IN 27
2%
AZ 26
2%
WA 26
2%
MA 25
2%
CT 24
2%
MN 23
2%
CO 23
2%
MO 23
2%
TN 22
2%
UT 17
1%
IA 16
1%
OR 16
1%
NV 15
1%
AL 14
1%
KY 13
1%
LA 13
1%
SC 13
1%
WI 13
1%
DE 9
1%
KS 9
1%
AR 7
1%
DC 6
0%
NM 6
0%
NE 5
0%
WV 5
0%
OK 5
0%