Lyra

Lyra - A very unique female name

Lyra appeared on the charts for the first time in 1974 on position #2911. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Lyra and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Lyra? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Lyra. The baby girl name Lyra was given to 671 baby girls in 2025, ranking #440 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,943 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Lyra peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 440.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Lyra, 1-5?

Lyra is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Lyra is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #87 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #892.

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 Lyra is where you live.

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Lyra origin and meaning

Greek/Latin — constellation name

From Greek lyra, 'lyre' — the constellation Lyra is Orpheus's lyre placed in the stars

Lyra was negligible as a name until Philip Pullman's heroine Lyra Belacqua (His Dark Materials, 1995) made it feel literary and adventurous. It has climbed steadily to its peak in 2025, helped by the 2019 TV adaptation.

Attested etymology

Lyra is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Lyra, pop culture references for the name Lyra and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Lyra

We've found the following names that sound similar to Lyra, sorted by popularity.

Laura / Lori / Laurie / Lora / Lara / Lorie / Lorrie / Lauri / Lorri / Leora /

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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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Lyra

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 Lyra 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 female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Lyra?

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.

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Pronunciation

LY-ruh · /ˈlaɪrə/

Around the world

• Lyra (Greek) — Original Greek word/name

Famous bearers

• Lyra Belacqua — Heroine of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials (Fictional, 1995) Fictional

Style

LiteraryMythologicalNatureInternational

Why parents choose it

Short, starry, and bookish — a mythic name that feels fresh rather than ancient.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation splits between LY-ruh and LEER-uh, and Pullman's Lyra is the defining reference.