Ira - A very unique male name
Ira at a glance
Ira is ranked #807 among boy baby names in 2025, with 262 births in 2025. It peaked in 1910 at #146 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #807
- Births in 2025
- 262
- Peak year
- 1910 (#146)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #816 in 2020 → #807 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 5,597 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.2/5 (15 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 5,597 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ira peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 146.
Famous with this name
Ira Glass
Ira Parker
Ira Amyx
How would you rate Ira, 1-5?
Ira is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ira is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #89 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,242.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ira is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Ira origin and meaning
Hebrew
A biblical Hebrew name, usually read as 'watchful' or 'watcher'; Ira was a priest of David and one of his warriors
Ira is one of the Bible's shortest names, and in US data it belongs to the era of biblical classics, peaking in 1947. After a long quiet stretch it is rising again slightly, helped by the taste for short vintage boys' names — and by broadcaster Ira Glass keeping it in the public ear.
Attested etymology
Ira is a 3 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Ira, pop culture references for the name Ira and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Ira
We've found the following names that sound similar to Ira, sorted by popularity.
Irie / Iroh / Ihor /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 807 |
| 2024 | 1011 |
| 2023 | 901 |
| 2022 | 856 |
| 2021 | 817 |
| 2020 | 816 |
| 2019 | 919 |
| 2018 | 966 |
| 2017 | 982 |
| 2016 | 987 |
| 2015 | 1103 |
| 2014 | 1272 |
| 2013 | 1256 |
| 2012 | 1269 |
| 2011 | 1576 |
| 2010 | 1420 |
| 2009 | 1482 |
| 2008 | 1672 |
| 2007 | 1725 |
| 2006 | 2022 |
| 2005 | 1730 |
| 2004 | 1520 |
| 2003 | 1467 |
| 2002 | 1195 |
| 2001 | 1939 |
| 2000 | 1626 |
| 1999 | 1502 |
| 1998 | 1264 |
| 1997 | 1224 |
| 1996 | 1108 |
| 1995 | 1245 |
| 1994 | 1177 |
| 1993 | 1192 |
| 1992 | 959 |
| 1991 | 870 |
| 1990 | 834 |
| 1989 | 824 |
| 1988 | 789 |
| 1987 | 739 |
| 1986 | 661 |
| 1985 | 752 |
| 1984 | 606 |
| 1983 | 548 |
| 1982 | 547 |
| 1981 | 509 |
| 1980 | 529 |
| 1979 | 522 |
| 1978 | 463 |
| 1977 | 459 |
| 1976 | 515 |
| 1975 | 442 |
| 1974 | 485 |
| 1973 | 438 |
| 1972 | 428 |
| 1971 | 446 |
| 1970 | 436 |
| 1969 | 396 |
| 1968 | 415 |
| 1967 | 395 |
| 1966 | 377 |
| 1965 | 387 |
| 1964 | 381 |
| 1963 | 396 |
| 1962 | 351 |
| 1961 | 340 |
| 1960 | 322 |
| 1959 | 320 |
| 1958 | 315 |
| 1957 | 296 |
| 1956 | 279 |
| 1955 | 275 |
| 1954 | 266 |
| 1953 | 256 |
| 1952 | 248 |
| 1951 | 240 |
| 1950 | 231 |
| 1949 | 231 |
| 1948 | 226 |
| 1947 | 216 |
| 1946 | 218 |
| 1945 | 213 |
| 1944 | 222 |
| 1943 | 234 |
| 1942 | 205 |
| 1941 | 221 |
| 1940 | 206 |
| 1939 | 227 |
| 1938 | 220 |
| 1937 | 209 |
| 1936 | 228 |
| 1935 | 219 |
| 1934 | 217 |
| 1933 | 202 |
| 1932 | 195 |
| 1931 | 207 |
| 1930 | 201 |
| 1929 | 200 |
| 1928 | 195 |
| 1927 | 182 |
| 1926 | 181 |
| 1925 | 184 |
| 1924 | 172 |
| 1923 | 172 |
| 1922 | 179 |
| 1921 | 169 |
| 1920 | 170 |
| 1919 | 167 |
| 1918 | 162 |
| 1917 | 152 |
| 1916 | 153 |
| 1915 | 149 |
| 1914 | 151 |
| 1913 | 153 |
| 1912 | 157 |
| 1911 | 151 |
| 1910 | 146 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Vermont | 89 |
| Nebraska | 397 |
| Minnesota | 433 |
| Utah | 450 |
| Wisconsin | 455 |
| Oklahoma | 483 |
| Oregon | 557 |
| Ohio | 565 |
| Arizona | 574 |
| Missouri | 575 |
| Indiana | 644 |
| Washington | 706 |
| Colorado | 710 |
| Kentucky | 750 |
| South Carolina | 791 |
| Michigan | 795 |
| Alabama | 804 |
| Massachusetts | 829 |
| Maryland | 850 |
| North Carolina | 895 |
| Pennsylvania | 951 |
| Tennessee | 973 |
| Georgia | 1029 |
| California | 1054 |
| Illinois | 1073 |
| Texas | 1147 |
| Virginia | 1152 |
| Florida | 1222 |
| New York | 1242 |
Even more about Ira
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Ira a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Ira?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
EYE-ruh · /ˈaɪrə/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Irah — A rare biblical-style spelling
Famous bearers
- Ira Gershwin — American lyricist who wrote the words to his brother George's songs (1896–1983) Historical
- Ira Glass — American broadcaster, host and creator of This American Life (b. 1959) Contemporary
Style
BiblicalClassicVintage revival
Why parents choose it
Parents choose Ira for brevity with backbone — a biblical name of two syllables that feels bookish, gentle and ready for revival.
Worth knowing
- It is also the abbreviation for an individual retirement account, an association adults will notice
