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Ira Name Meaning, Origins & History

Ira

Pronunciation: EYE-ruh

Meaning Watchful Origin Hebrew, Slavic Gender Unisex
BOYS RANK
#822
TREND
153
GIRLS RANK
#1,086
TREND
350
Peak Years
1947, 1921, 1918
Lowest Years
2001, 2005, 1998
Energy Archetype
Compassionate & Creative

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 boys named Ira in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Ira

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Ira appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 18 years. Its last run lasted 2 consecutive years, from 1897 through 1898.
  • More than 62 thousand babies named Ira: U.S. records list 62,529 babies given the name Ira from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 7,124 girls received the name Ira - about 1 girl for every 8 boys.

What Does the Name Ira Mean?

Ira is a name with more than one independent origin, and these origins carry different meanings. Its earliest documented source is the Hebrew masculine name עִירָא (Ira), conventionally explained as "watchful" or "vigilant." The meaning is a customary interpretation rather than a plain translation of one word; it is linked to a Hebrew root associated with being awake or roused.

Separately, in Russian and other Slavic languages, Ira (Ира) is the everyday short form of the feminine name Irina, which comes from Greek Eirene, meaning "peace." Used this way, Ira carries the sense "peace."

In South Asia, Ira is a feminine name taken from the Sanskrit word irā, meaning "earth," a term also used for a Vedic goddess associated with the earth and with speech.

Ira Name History & Origins

In the Hebrew Bible, two men named Ira are connected with King David. Ira the Jairite served David as a priest or chief official (2 Samuel 20:26), and Ira the Ithrite was named among David's thirty elite warriors (2 Samuel 23:38; 1 Chronicles 11:40). The name was used in Jewish communities and later entered English usage, where it was borne mainly as a masculine name. A well-known American bearer was the lyricist Ira Gershwin.

In Russian and other Slavic languages, Ira is the usual short form of the feminine name Irina. Because the short form is so common, it is also used on its own as a given name, generally for women.

In India, Ira is used as a feminine name, drawn from the Sanskrit irā, "earth." In Vedic tradition Irā is a goddess tied to the earth and to speech, sometimes identified with Sarasvatī.

How Popular is the Name Ira?

Ira recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1947. Ira ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1895, then returned in 1897 and remained through 1898.

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.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Ira

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.

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How the Name Ira 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 are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.

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