Fun Facts About the Name Ara
- More than 4 thousand babies named Ara: U.S. records list 4,866 babies given the name Ara from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,301 boys received the name Ara - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.
What Does the Name Ara Mean?
Ara is a name with more than one independent origin, and in none of them is the original meaning securely established. As an Armenian name, Ara belongs to the legendary hero Ara the Beautiful (Ara Geghetsik), son of Aram, whose story was recorded in early Armenian tradition. The Armenian name is generally treated as an inherited name rather than one built from an obvious modern Armenian word, and its earliest sense is not known.
A different Ara appears in the Hebrew Bible: in 1 Chronicles 7:38, Ara (אַרְא) is listed among the sons of Jether in the genealogy of the tribe of Asher. The text gives no explanation of the name, and its Hebrew meaning is unknown.
Latin ara, "altar," is a separate word rather than a personal name; it is the source of the constellation name Ara, the Altar. In modern English use, Ara is also sometimes a short form of longer names such as Arabella or Araceli, in which case it carries no independent meaning of its own.
Ara Name History & Origins
In Armenia, Ara is a long-established male given name tied to the legendary King Ara the Beautiful, a pre-Christian figure whose story is told in the history attributed to Movses Khorenatsi. In that account, the Assyrian queen Semiramis (Shamiram) wanted Ara as her husband; he refused, was killed in battle, and she recovered his body. The story is a traditional legend rather than documented history, but it shows how deeply the name is embedded in Armenian tradition.
The biblical Ara of 1 Chronicles appears only in the Asherite genealogy, and nothing further is recorded about him. The Hebrew name and the Armenian name are not known to be related, and their resemblance is best treated as coincidence rather than shared origin.
Ara is also the Latin noun for "altar." The southern constellation Ara, the Altar, was listed among the constellations in Ptolemy's Almagest and is named from that common noun, not from a person.
In the English-speaking world, Ara has been used as a given name for both boys and girls, and it also appears as a short form of longer names such as Arabella or Araceli.
How Popular is the Name Ara?
Ara recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Its best rank was #481 in 1884.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,255 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2024 | #3,116 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 2023 | #3,140 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 2022 | #2,364 | 78 | 0.0048% |
| 2021 | #2,387 | 75 | 0.0046% |
| 2020 | #2,932 | 55 | 0.0034% |
| 2019 | #3,004 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #2,751 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 2017 | #2,747 | 62 | 0.0036% |
| 2016 | #3,105 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2015 | #3,304 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2014 | #3,278 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2013 | #3,650 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2012 | #3,045 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 2011 | #4,932 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #4,316 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #4,813 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2008 | #5,454 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #6,124 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #4,828 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #4,846 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #6,250 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #5,829 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #5,920 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #7,778 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #4,193 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1999 | #5,922 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #7,144 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #6,880 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #5,788 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #6,283 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #5,731 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #7,068 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #7,556 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #5,970 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #6,147 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #4,027 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #3,702 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1987 | #3,993 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1986 | #3,655 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1985 | #3,737 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1984 | #4,331 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #3,959 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #3,182 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1981 | #3,147 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1980 | #3,513 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1979 | #3,447 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #3,203 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1977 | #3,769 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #3,547 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #2,971 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #3,563 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #3,350 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #3,284 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #3,377 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #7,112 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,208 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #5,667 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #3,855 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #4,208 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #3,270 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #3,383 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,070 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #3,793 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #4,254 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #4,450 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #4,313 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,934 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,948 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #4,477 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #4,081 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,894 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #3,489 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #3,560 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #3,492 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,915 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,275 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #2,496 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #3,251 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,095 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,826 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #2,205 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #2,257 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #2,828 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,538 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #1,794 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,884 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,810 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #1,631 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1936 | #1,553 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1935 | #1,664 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1934 | #1,221 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1933 | #1,840 | 18 | 0.0018% |
| 1932 | #1,452 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1931 | #1,460 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1930 | #2,116 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #1,449 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1928 | #1,545 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #1,407 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1926 | #1,167 | 43 | 0.0036% |
| 1925 | #1,350 | 35 | 0.0029% |
| 1924 | #1,110 | 50 | 0.0040% |
| 1923 | #1,268 | 38 | 0.0031% |
| 1922 | #1,272 | 38 | 0.0032% |
| 1921 | #1,127 | 46 | 0.0037% |
| 1920 | #1,039 | 51 | 0.0043% |
| 1919 | #1,195 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1918 | #1,000 | 52 | 0.0045% |
| 1917 | #1,128 | 40 | 0.0037% |
| 1916 | #1,005 | 47 | 0.0045% |
| 1915 | #969 | 47 | 0.0048% |
| 1914 | #932 | 40 | 0.0053% |
| 1913 | #914 | 34 | 0.0054% |
| 1912 | #920 | 30 | 0.0054% |
| 1911 | #900 | 23 | 0.0055% |
| 1910 | #896 | 23 | 0.0058% |
| 1909 | #1,225 | 12 | 0.0035% |
| 1908 | #769 | 25 | 0.0075% |
| 1907 | #727 | 27 | 0.0085% |
| 1906 | #873 | 18 | 0.0061% |
| 1905 | #903 | 17 | 0.0058% |
| 1904 | #854 | 18 | 0.0065% |
| 1903 | #695 | 23 | 0.0088% |
| 1902 | #774 | 20 | 0.0076% |
| 1901 | #559 | 30 | 0.0125% |
| 1900 | #726 | 25 | 0.0083% |
| 1899 | #936 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1898 | #651 | 25 | 0.0097% |
| 1897 | #700 | 20 | 0.0085% |
| 1896 | #688 | 21 | 0.0088% |
| 1895 | #658 | 22 | 0.0094% |
| 1894 | #785 | 15 | 0.0067% |
| 1893 | #662 | 19 | 0.0089% |
| 1892 | #617 | 21 | 0.0099% |
| 1891 | #625 | 18 | 0.0097% |
| 1890 | #558 | 22 | 0.0116% |
| 1889 | #544 | 22 | 0.0123% |
| 1888 | #560 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1887 | #561 | 16 | 0.0110% |
| 1886 | #541 | 17 | 0.0118% |
| 1885 | #523 | 17 | 0.0128% |
| 1884 | #481 | 18 | 0.0140% |
| 1883 | #756 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1882 | #597 | 10 | 0.0093% |
| 1881 | #628 | 8 | 0.0087% |
| 1880 | #744 | 6 | 0.0066% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,714 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #6,186 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #4,890 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #8,355 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #5,125 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #5,245 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2019 | #5,565 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #6,730 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #5,306 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #6,379 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,531 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,715 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #7,570 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #8,197 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #7,537 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #10,857 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #7,724 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #6,418 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #9,850 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #6,117 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #5,591 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #8,190 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,654 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #7,082 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #6,480 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #8,256 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #5,680 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #3,712 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,072 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #5,554 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,524 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #4,302 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #3,669 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #4,586 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #3,470 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #4,183 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #2,911 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #3,084 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #4,257 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #3,012 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #2,431 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #2,965 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #2,496 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #3,699 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #2,575 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #2,004 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1979 | #2,314 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #1,798 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1977 | #2,207 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1976 | #1,782 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1975 | #1,531 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1974 | #1,546 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1973 | #1,821 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1972 | #2,084 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,206 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,301 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #1,607 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #2,584 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #1,810 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #1,968 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1965 | #2,274 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #2,670 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #1,962 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,659 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,661 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #2,542 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #4,019 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #2,826 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #3,033 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #3,551 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #3,465 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,315 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,195 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,872 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #3,243 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,589 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,883 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #3,502 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,546 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #1,841 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1934 | #2,272 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #2,550 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #2,471 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #2,102 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #3,036 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #1,734 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1928 | #2,526 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #2,528 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #2,194 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #2,601 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #3,892 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #2,624 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #3,027 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1921 | #2,813 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #3,223 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #2,889 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #4,007 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,926 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #2,842 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,278 | 9 | 0.0014% |
| 1913 | #2,512 | 6 | 0.0012% |
| 1912 | #2,288 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1910 | #1,601 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1893 | #1,041 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Ara
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with A
Short Girl Names That Start with A
How the Name Ara Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Ara's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ara's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.