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Myra Name Meaning, Origins & History

Myra

Pronunciation: MY-ruh

Meaning Scented oil Origin coinages Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#663
TREND
17
Peak Years
1958, 1959, 1960
Lowest Years
1881, 1883, 1880
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Myra in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Myra

  • More than 63 thousand babies named Myra: U.S. records list 63,963 babies given the name Myra from 1880 through 2025. Even 51 boys received the name Myra - about 1 boy for every 1,253 girls.

What Does the Name Myra Mean?

Myra is a feminine given name. Its usual explanation is that it comes from myrrha, the Latin form of Greek smyrna, the word for myrrh, the aromatic resin burned as incense and used in perfume. On that derivation the name means "myrrh." A second, often repeated idea treats Myra as a variant or anagram of Mary, but the two names are spelled differently and have separate histories, so this is a suggested association rather than a documented descent. Myra is also the ancient name of a city in Lycia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor; the place name is not known to be the source of the personal name, and the two should not be merged.

Myra Name History & Origins

Myra appears as a given name in the English-speaking world by the 17th century. It is not a biblical name: it has no figure in the Bible, and its use in English rests on the myrrh derivation and on the name's resemblance to Mary rather than on a scriptural person.

The word's most documented historical association is geographical. Myra was a Greek city of Lycia, in what is now southern Turkey, and its bishop in the fourth century was Nicholas, remembered as Saint Nicholas and later linked in tradition with Santa Claus. That city name is ancient, but no record connects it to the later use of Myra as a personal name.

In the 19th and 20th centuries Myra was a familiar name in Britain and the United States, and it remains in modest use. It is also found in other European languages, where it is generally understood in the same "myrrh" sense.

How Popular is the Name Myra?

Myra recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1958. Its best rank was #158 in 1880.

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.

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 Myra Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.

Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.

✦ Myra's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Myra's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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