Yara
Yara is a girls' name of Arabic origin meaning “small butterfly, water lady, strength.” It ranked #507 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Yara?
YAH-rah
where does the name Yara come from?
Yara developed separately in several languages: in Arabic it is glossed as small butterfly; in Brazilian Portuguese, as Iara, it is a river spirit of Tupi and Guarani mythology; and in Persian it means strength or courage.
Yara carries several meanings that grew up separately: in Arabic it means small butterfly, in Brazilian Tupi and Guarani mythology Iara is a river spirit, and in Persian it means strength or courage. This cross-cultural richness has made Yara one of the fastest-rising names globally.
how popular is this name?
Yara has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 9 years since 2017. It peaked at #507 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #507 |
| 2024 | #581 |
| 2023 | #612 |
| 2022 | #571 |
| 2021 | #657 |
| 2020 | #654 |
| 2019 | #765 |
| 2018 | #671 |
| 2017 | #985 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Yara fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Yara?
- Yara Shahidi (Iranian-American actress and activist)
- Yara (Brazilian musical artist)
what are the nicknames and variants of Yara?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Yara?
what names go well with Yara?
Sibling names that share Yara's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Yara
What does the name Yara mean?
Yara means “small butterfly, water lady, strength”.
What is the origin of the name Yara?
Yara comes from the Arabic naming tradition. Related forms include Iara.
How popular is the name Yara?
Yara ranked #507 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data.
Is Yara a boy or girl name?
Yara is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Yara?
Yara is pronounced YAH-rah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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