Find out how popular the first name Ara has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ara by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ara is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 66% of people named Ara being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 52 female babies and 20 male babies born with the name Ara.

The history of the first name Ara

The name Ara has its origins in several ancient cultures and languages, with varying meanings and historical significance.

The Armenian name Ara is derived from the word "ar" meaning "fire" or "sun". It was a popular name among the ancient Armenians and can be traced back to the 5th century BC. In Armenian mythology, Ara was also the name of a legendary hero and king.

In Sanskrit, the name Ara means "spoke of a wheel" or "ray of light". It has been used in various Hindu texts and scriptures, often referring to the sun's rays or the spokes of a chariot wheel.

In Arabic, the name Ara can be a shortened form of the name Aras, which means "lion" or "brave". This name has been used by several historical figures, including Aras ibn Malik, a 7th-century Arab general and governor of Khurasan.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ara comes from the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus, who wrote a lost tragedy called "Ara" in the 5th century BC.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Ara:

1. Ara the Handsome (7th century BC), an Armenian prince and the founder of the Arshakuni dynasty.
2. Ara the Beautiful (4th century BC), an Armenian king who ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from 370 BC to 326 BC.
3. Ara Pazhduni (5th century AD), an Armenian military commander and prince who fought against the Persian Empire.
4. Ara Gevorgyan (1873-1919), an Armenian writer, poet, and translator known for his contributions to Armenian literature.
5. Ara Guler (1928-2018), a renowned Turkish-Armenian photographer and photojournalist, often referred to as the "Eye of Istanbul".

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Ara throughout history, each with their own cultural and historical significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ara, please contact us.

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