Zara
Say it: ZAR-a
Girl4 letters2 syllables
#66
in Ireland (2025)
78
babies in 2025
#43
best rank (2019)
2,655
babies since 1975
Up 3
10-year rank change
Zara through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #66 |
| 2024 | 83 | #64 |
| 2023 | 96 | #57 |
| 2022 | 63 | #89 |
| 2021 | 111 | #55 |
| 2020 | 76 | #70 |
| 2019 | 130 | #43 |
| 2018 | 112 | #54 |
| 2017 | 117 | #53 |
| 2016 | 108 | #57 |
| 2015 | 97 | #69 |
| 2014 | 109 | #63 |
| 2013 | 122 | #59 |
| 2012 | 102 | #68 |
| 2011 | 90 | #82 |
| 2010 | 77 | #89 |
| 2009 | 94 | #77 |
| 2008 | 114 | #62 |
| 2007 | 79 | #80 |
| 2006 | 65 | #90 |
| 2005 | 64 | #88 |
| 2004 | 49 | #107 |
| 2003 | 45 | #113 |
| 2002 | 56 | #87 |
| 2001 | 59 | #83 |
| 2000 | 49 | #89 |
| 1999 | 36 | #110 |
| 1998 | 28 | #134 |
| 1997 | 15 | #254 |
| 1996 | 12 | #273 |
| 1995 | 16 | #232 |
| 1994 | 24 | #174 |
| 1993 | 24 | #181 |
| 1992 | 20 | #203 |
| 1991 | 25 | #176 |
| 1990 | 19 | #208 |
| 1989 | 16 | #228 |
| 1988 | 20 | #203 |
| 1987 | 19 | #225 |
| 1986 | 36 | #155 |
| 1985 | 28 | #187 |
| 1984 | 21 | #221 |
| 1983 | 11 | #298 |
| 1982 | 16 | #265 |
| 1981 | 9 | #335 |
| 1978 | 3 | #522 |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Zara mean?
Uncertain, linked with Sarah ("princess") or Arabic zahra ("flower")
Possibly a variant of Sarah, or linked with Arabic zahra (flower).
Say it right
ZARa
Some people say ZAIR-a.
The story of Zara
Zara’s origin is not settled. It is often treated as a twentieth-century variant of Sarah, the Hebrew name meaning princess. Others link it with the Arabic zahra, meaning flower. A third idea connects it with Zaïre, the heroine of a 1732 play by Voltaire. Each explanation has its supporters, and the name may have more than one source.
It became widely known in 1981, when Princess Anne gave it to her daughter, Zara Tindall.
In Ireland, Zara first reached the CSO list in 1975. It has been in the top 100 every year since 2005, and peaked in 2019, when 130 girls were named Zara and it reached number 43. Northern Ireland took to it sooner: its best year there was 2007, when it was 32nd.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Zara (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Zara (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Zara | 78 | 2,655 |
In Northern Ireland
#55 in 2025 with 35 babies. Best rank #32 (2007); 1,456 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.