Zara

Zara - A very unique female name

Zara appeared on the charts for the first time in 1915 on position #1573. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Zara and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Zara? 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 Zara. The baby girl name Zara was given to 1,407 baby girls in 2025, ranking #212 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 926 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Zara peaked in popularity 4 years ago in 2022 on position 201.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Zara, 1-5?

Zara is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Zara is currently topping the baby name charts in District of Columbia at position #108 - and is the least popular in Oregon at position #482.

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 Zara is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Zara origin and meaning

Multiple origins — derivation disputed

Uncertain — linked both to Arabic Zahra, "blooming flower, radiance," and to the Zaïre/Sarah line meaning "princess"

Zara cannot be pinned to one root: it matches the Arabic name Zahra in sound, and it also descends in European use from Zaïre, a form of Sarah. Either way it arrived as a sleek, international name, was given a royal stamp by Zara Phillips in 1981, and has risen steadily in America to near its 2022 peak.

Origin uncertain

Zara is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Zara

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

Zuri / Zariah / Zaria / Zahra / Zariyah / Zora / Zaira / Zahara / Zarah / Zhuri /

---

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 Zara

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 Zara 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 Zara?

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

ZAH-ruh · /ˈzɑːrə/
ZAH-ruh and ZAIR-uh are both common American readings; families should pick one and expect the other.

Around the world

• Zahra (Arabic) — The Arabic name Zara is often connected to, meaning 'radiance, flower'
• Zara (Spanish) — Used as-is in Spanish

Spellings and nicknames

• Zarah — A spelling variant with a final h

Famous bearers

• Zara Tindall — British equestrian and Olympian, daughter of Princess Anne, born Zara Phillips (b. 1981) Contemporary
• Zara Larsson — Swedish pop singer (b. 1997) Contemporary

Style

InternationalRoyal

Why parents choose it

Parents pick Zara for its zingy minimalism — an exotic-feeling classic that is short, strong, and easy across languages.

Worth knowing

• The fashion retailer Zara is the first association for many people.
• The pretty Arabic-flower meaning is a plausible connection, not a proven one — and the pronunciation splits two ways.