Fun Facts About the Name Irah
- 146 babies named Irah: U.S. records list 146 babies given the name Irah from 1880 through 2025. Even 60 girls received the name Irah.
What Does the Name Irah Mean?
Irah is usually treated as a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Ira (עִירָא, ʿÎrāʾ), traditionally explained as "watchful." The Hebrew name belongs to several men in the books of Samuel and Chronicles, and it is still used as a male given name in Israel. Its exact derivation is not settled: "watchful" is a customary gloss found in name dictionaries rather than a certain translation, and some reference works list the meaning as unknown.
A second, unrelated source is the Sanskrit word irā (इरा), which can mean "earth," "speech," or "refreshment" and appears in classical Indian texts as a name. The closely spelled Ira used in India is generally understood as this Sanskrit word rather than as the Hebrew name. A third unrelated source is Russian, where Ира (Ira) is the everyday short form of Ирина (Irina). One spelling does not guarantee one origin.
Irah Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible, Ira is the name of several men who served King David: Ira the Jairite, described as a priest or chief official (2 Samuel 20:26); Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, one of David's fighting men and later the officer in charge of the sixth month's division (2 Samuel 23:26; 1 Chronicles 27:9); and Ira the Ithrite, counted among David's thirty warriors (2 Samuel 23:38; 1 Chronicles 11:40). The name was carried into Greek and Latin scripture and from there into European use.
Like other Old Testament names, Ira entered English use through Bible reading, and it has been a given name in the English-speaking world since at least the 18th century; Ira Allen (1751 - 1814), a founder of the state of Vermont, is an early American example. The spelling Irah adds a final h, a common English variation on biblical names (compare Sara and Sarah). That added letter also gives the name the look of biblical feminine names ending in -ah, such as Leah and Hannah, and Irah appears in modern use as a feminine name as well as a masculine one.
How Popular is the Name Irah?
Irah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #6,970 in 2024.
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 | #15,818 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #9,145 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #14,084 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #14,247 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #16,178 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,661 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #16,608 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #17,247 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #17,497 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #18,034 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,226 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #6,970 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #9,230 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #6,976 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #10,127 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #11,123 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #12,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #11,295 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #11,249 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #7,701 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #11,265 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Irah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Irah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Irah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.