Fun Facts About the Name Ezra
- A newer favorite: Ezra first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2015 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 11 consecutive years.
- More than 111 thousand babies named Ezra: U.S. records list 111,673 babies given the name Ezra from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,003 girls received the name Ezra - about 1 girl for every 21 boys.
What Does the Name Ezra Mean?
Ezra is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning 'help' or 'helper.' It comes from the Hebrew root עזר (ʿ-z-r), 'to help,' and the biblical Hebrew name is עֶזְרָא (Ezra). The same root lies behind the longer Hebrew name Azariah (עֲזַרְיָה), 'Yahweh has helped.'
Ezra is sometimes described as a shortened form of Azariah or a similar theophoric name, with the divine element omitted. The exact relationship is not certain, but the literal sense of the standalone name remains 'help.' Translations that give 'helper' are rendering that sense in a more personal way rather than offering a different etymology.
Ezra Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible in the person of Ezra, a priest and scribe who is associated with the return from Babylonian exile and with the restoration of Torah observance in Jerusalem. The biblical book of Ezra is named for him, and Nehemiah also mentions him. Another Ezra appears in a genealogy in 1 Chronicles, showing that the name was not unique to the post-exilic leader.
From Hebrew, the name passed into Greek as Ἔσδρας (Esdras) and into Latin as Esdras. English Bibles use the form Ezra for the book and the person, while Esdras remains the form in some other Christian traditions. The name has been used in Jewish communities since the biblical period, and in the English-speaking world it appears in Protestant translations, including the King James Bible of 1611.
The biblical account associates Ezra with public reading of the Torah, and later rabbinic tradition places him among the Men of the Great Assembly. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885 - 1972) is a modern bearer of the name, a literary association distinct from its ancient biblical use.
How Popular is the Name Ezra?
Ezra recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2024. Ezra entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2015.
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 | #834 | 327 | 0.0203% |
| 2024 | #705 | 398 | 0.0247% |
| 2023 | #764 | 369 | 0.0230% |
| 2022 | #645 | 457 | 0.0279% |
| 2021 | #714 | 401 | 0.0245% |
| 2020 | #713 | 393 | 0.0243% |
| 2019 | #824 | 330 | 0.0197% |
| 2018 | #962 | 275 | 0.0162% |
| 2017 | #1,182 | 207 | 0.0120% |
| 2016 | #1,227 | 200 | 0.0113% |
| 2015 | #1,201 | 208 | 0.0117% |
| 2014 | #1,440 | 158 | 0.0088% |
| 2013 | #1,473 | 151 | 0.0086% |
| 2012 | #1,710 | 122 | 0.0069% |
| 2011 | #1,957 | 101 | 0.0057% |
| 2010 | #2,186 | 89 | 0.0050% |
| 2009 | #2,192 | 90 | 0.0049% |
| 2008 | #2,361 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 2007 | #2,520 | 74 | 0.0038% |
| 2006 | #2,995 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2005 | #2,878 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 2004 | #3,012 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #3,489 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2002 | #4,014 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #3,269 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2000 | #3,473 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1999 | #3,654 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1998 | #4,841 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #4,424 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #5,130 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #6,367 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #9,863 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #8,959 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #7,689 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #9,611 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #11,845 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #10,774 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #8,230 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #8,624 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,002 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #8,413 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #7,775 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,804 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #9,513 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #6,252 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,004 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #5,354 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #4,678 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #4,477 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,558 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #20 | 8,126 | 0.4757% |
| 2024 | #13 | 8,774 | 0.5115% |
| 2023 | #15 | 8,474 | 0.4960% |
| 2022 | #25 | 8,014 | 0.4594% |
| 2021 | #37 | 7,435 | 0.4253% |
| 2020 | #44 | 6,830 | 0.3959% |
| 2019 | #49 | 6,549 | 0.3652% |
| 2018 | #59 | 6,047 | 0.3331% |
| 2017 | #69 | 5,346 | 0.2889% |
| 2016 | #85 | 4,879 | 0.2572% |
| 2015 | #93 | 4,337 | 0.2263% |
| 2014 | #119 | 3,423 | 0.1782% |
| 2013 | #142 | 2,757 | 0.1458% |
| 2012 | #183 | 2,089 | 0.1101% |
| 2011 | #203 | 1,760 | 0.0927% |
| 2010 | #242 | 1,448 | 0.0755% |
| 2009 | #258 | 1,344 | 0.0678% |
| 2008 | #291 | 1,164 | 0.0571% |
| 2007 | #337 | 952 | 0.0459% |
| 2006 | #340 | 913 | 0.0444% |
| 2005 | #346 | 856 | 0.0429% |
| 2004 | #377 | 732 | 0.0369% |
| 2003 | #400 | 651 | 0.0330% |
| 2002 | #436 | 571 | 0.0294% |
| 2001 | #426 | 574 | 0.0295% |
| 2000 | #430 | 566 | 0.0288% |
| 1999 | #483 | 460 | 0.0240% |
| 1998 | #483 | 451 | 0.0236% |
| 1997 | #551 | 355 | 0.0188% |
| 1996 | #552 | 338 | 0.0178% |
| 1995 | #647 | 259 | 0.0136% |
| 1994 | #693 | 227 | 0.0117% |
| 1993 | #693 | 223 | 0.0114% |
| 1992 | #785 | 178 | 0.0089% |
| 1991 | #751 | 184 | 0.0091% |
| 1990 | #760 | 179 | 0.0087% |
| 1989 | #722 | 188 | 0.0094% |
| 1988 | #667 | 202 | 0.0106% |
| 1987 | #651 | 199 | 0.0107% |
| 1986 | #705 | 163 | 0.0089% |
| 1985 | #677 | 173 | 0.0094% |
| 1984 | #709 | 152 | 0.0084% |
| 1983 | #720 | 144 | 0.0080% |
| 1982 | #648 | 179 | 0.0099% |
| 1981 | #622 | 189 | 0.0106% |
| 1980 | #671 | 167 | 0.0094% |
| 1979 | #684 | 156 | 0.0091% |
| 1978 | #682 | 151 | 0.0092% |
| 1977 | #672 | 158 | 0.0096% |
| 1976 | #675 | 149 | 0.0095% |
| 1975 | #687 | 145 | 0.0093% |
| 1974 | #733 | 123 | 0.0078% |
| 1973 | #729 | 121 | 0.0078% |
| 1972 | #791 | 103 | 0.0064% |
| 1971 | #825 | 96 | 0.0054% |
| 1970 | #961 | 70 | 0.0038% |
| 1969 | #895 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 1968 | #998 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 1967 | #1,009 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1966 | #962 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1965 | #957 | 59 | 0.0032% |
| 1964 | #1,152 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1963 | #913 | 67 | 0.0033% |
| 1962 | #1,018 | 57 | 0.0028% |
| 1961 | #994 | 61 | 0.0029% |
| 1960 | #969 | 62 | 0.0029% |
| 1959 | #998 | 60 | 0.0028% |
| 1958 | #984 | 60 | 0.0028% |
| 1957 | #910 | 70 | 0.0032% |
| 1956 | #877 | 73 | 0.0035% |
| 1955 | #889 | 70 | 0.0034% |
| 1954 | #980 | 58 | 0.0028% |
| 1953 | #827 | 76 | 0.0039% |
| 1952 | #942 | 57 | 0.0029% |
| 1951 | #799 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 1950 | #788 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 1949 | #842 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 1948 | #925 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1947 | #908 | 59 | 0.0032% |
| 1946 | #928 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 1945 | #891 | 51 | 0.0038% |
| 1944 | #783 | 64 | 0.0047% |
| 1943 | #872 | 59 | 0.0041% |
| 1942 | #854 | 59 | 0.0043% |
| 1941 | #920 | 48 | 0.0039% |
| 1940 | #804 | 60 | 0.0052% |
| 1939 | #872 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1938 | #873 | 51 | 0.0046% |
| 1937 | #702 | 73 | 0.0068% |
| 1936 | #584 | 98 | 0.0094% |
| 1935 | #682 | 78 | 0.0075% |
| 1934 | #574 | 106 | 0.0103% |
| 1933 | #617 | 88 | 0.0089% |
| 1932 | #674 | 82 | 0.0079% |
| 1931 | #651 | 84 | 0.0081% |
| 1930 | #573 | 109 | 0.0099% |
| 1929 | #581 | 106 | 0.0099% |
| 1928 | #568 | 117 | 0.0106% |
| 1927 | #579 | 114 | 0.0101% |
| 1926 | #514 | 139 | 0.0125% |
| 1925 | #533 | 133 | 0.0119% |
| 1924 | #527 | 143 | 0.0126% |
| 1923 | #473 | 166 | 0.0151% |
| 1922 | #507 | 149 | 0.0137% |
| 1921 | #480 | 164 | 0.0149% |
| 1920 | #512 | 142 | 0.0133% |
| 1919 | #497 | 143 | 0.0146% |
| 1918 | #500 | 142 | 0.0140% |
| 1917 | #486 | 140 | 0.0151% |
| 1916 | #456 | 153 | 0.0172% |
| 1915 | #476 | 135 | 0.0159% |
| 1914 | #467 | 107 | 0.0163% |
| 1913 | #472 | 84 | 0.0164% |
| 1912 | #412 | 89 | 0.0207% |
| 1911 | #428 | 46 | 0.0204% |
| 1910 | #416 | 42 | 0.0216% |
| 1909 | #462 | 30 | 0.0183% |
| 1908 | #504 | 25 | 0.0162% |
| 1907 | #409 | 31 | 0.0211% |
| 1906 | #388 | 31 | 0.0233% |
| 1905 | #366 | 32 | 0.0242% |
| 1904 | #345 | 34 | 0.0265% |
| 1903 | #333 | 33 | 0.0277% |
| 1902 | #395 | 26 | 0.0212% |
| 1901 | #427 | 20 | 0.0188% |
| 1900 | #331 | 42 | 0.0279% |
| 1899 | #367 | 25 | 0.0235% |
| 1898 | #291 | 40 | 0.0326% |
| 1897 | #274 | 43 | 0.0381% |
| 1896 | #272 | 45 | 0.0376% |
| 1895 | #266 | 45 | 0.0383% |
| 1894 | #262 | 44 | 0.0380% |
| 1893 | #283 | 38 | 0.0338% |
| 1892 | #271 | 44 | 0.0361% |
| 1891 | #261 | 38 | 0.0376% |
| 1890 | #263 | 43 | 0.0387% |
| 1889 | #297 | 33 | 0.0298% |
| 1888 | #316 | 32 | 0.0265% |
| 1887 | #291 | 33 | 0.0325% |
| 1886 | #272 | 39 | 0.0352% |
| 1885 | #358 | 24 | 0.0223% |
| 1884 | #262 | 43 | 0.0376% |
| 1883 | #311 | 28 | 0.0268% |
| 1882 | #267 | 41 | 0.0361% |
| 1881 | #230 | 44 | 0.0437% |
| 1880 | #270 | 39 | 0.0353% |
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 Name Lists Featuring Ezra
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Recent Favorite Boy Names
Explore More Lists with Name Ezra
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with E
Short Boy Names That Start with E
How the Name Ezra Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Ezra's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ezra's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.