Lyra
Lyra is a girls' name of English origin meaning “lyre, constellation.” It ranked #188 in the United States in 2025. Lyra is the name of a constellation representing Orpheus's lyre in Greek mythology, containing the brilliant star Vega.
how do you pronounce Lyra?
LYE-rah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Lyra mean?
The name Lyra means “lyre, constellation.” It comes from the English language tradition.
Lyra is the name of a constellation representing Orpheus's lyre in Greek mythology, containing the brilliant star Vega. Philip Pullman chose it for his heroine Lyra Belacqua in His Dark Materials, giving the name literary depth alongside its astronomical beauty. It has risen dramatically in popularity, combining celestial wonder with musical harmony.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #188 |
| 2023 | #196 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Lyra?
- Lyra Belacqua (protagonist of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials)
- Lyra McKee (Northern Irish journalist)
what names are similar to Lyra?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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