Dara
Meaningoak · Irish
- US rank
- #2,676
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,614 in 1985
48 babies were named Dara in the US in 2025. It has climbed 977 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1955–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Dara you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Dara
Dara Shikoh
Indian prince
Choose Dara and your child shares a first name with Dara Shikoh, an Indian prince. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Dara, like who?” Dara Shikoh's Wikipedia article is available in 35 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Dara Shikoh on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: 1628 artist, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 35,587 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Dara, 48 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Dara would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDara first shows up in US birth records in 1893, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 132 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1985, when it reached #1,614.
- Then vs nowDara is 2.6× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 93,458 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 35,587.
- TrendDara has climbed 977 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,676. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Boy or girlDara is given to both boys and girls: 81% of the 255 babies named Dara in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Irish, Dara means “oak”.
About the name Dara
Dara is a boy name of Irish origin meaning “oak”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-ara”. US birth records list Dara for boys from 1955 to 2025, in 55 of those 71 years. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked #1,614 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,676, with 48 babies.
Origin:Irish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.6 | 1,724,138 boys |
| 1960s | 0.9 | 1,086,957 boys |
| 1970s | 1.8 | 546,448 boys |
| 1980s | 10.0 | 100,200 boys |
| 1990s | 9.7 | 103,199 boys |
| 2000s | 5.6 | 177,936 boys |
| 2010s | 5.5 | 180,832 boys |
| 2020s | 20 | 49,302 boys |
Other spellings of Dara
More Irish boy names
- Boy name: Liam · resolute protector
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
- Unisex name: Ryan · little king
- Boy name: Dominic · of the Lord
Questions about the name Dara
What does the name Dara mean?
Dara means “oak” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Dara?
Dara has Irish roots in our records. Other Irish names include Liam, Owen, Logan.
Is Dara a boy or girl name?
Dara is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Dara?
Dara ranked #2,676 for US boys in 2025, given to 48 babies. Its best year was 1985 (#1,614).