Darra
A variant of the Irish feminine name Daire meaning "fruitful" or "fertile".
Name Census estimates that about 451 living Americans carry the first name Darra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Darra today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Darra births was 1980 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Darra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
451
~ 1 in 759,987 Americans
Peak year
1980
20 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
2018 SSA rank
#12,801
Tracked since 1949
Popularity
Darra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Darra from the 1940s through to the 2010s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 114 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Darra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Darra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Darra
The name Darra is a feminine given name with origins tracing back to ancient Persian and Middle Eastern cultures. It is believed to have derived from the Persian word "darya," meaning "sea" or "ocean." This connection to water and the vastness of the seas lends the name a sense of depth and expansiveness.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Darra can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In the poem, Darra is mentioned as a beautiful and virtuous princess, celebrated for her grace and wisdom.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Darra gained popularity in various regions of the Middle East, particularly in areas influenced by Persian culture. It was often associated with qualities such as strength, resilience, and adaptability, much like the ever-changing tides of the sea.
In the 13th century, Darra was the name of a renowned Kurdish poet and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics ranging from love and spirituality to the nature of existence. Her works were widely celebrated and contributed to the cultural and intellectual discourse of the time.
During the Ottoman Empire, which spanned from the 13th to the early 20th century, the name Darra was embraced by various ethnic groups within the empire's borders, including Turks, Arabs, and Persians. It was particularly popular among families with ties to the sea or maritime traditions.
One of the most prominent historical figures bearing the name Darra was Darra Shikoh, a Mughal prince and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his efforts to promote religious tolerance and understanding between different faiths, as well as his contributions to the arts and literature.
In more recent times, notable individuals named Darra include Darra Singh, an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British rule in the early 20th century.
Another remarkable woman named Darra was Darra Goldstein, a renowned Russian-American scholar and author known for her work on Russian cuisine and culture. She has written numerous books and articles exploring the rich traditions and history of Russian gastronomy.
While the name Darra has its roots in ancient Persian and Middle Eastern cultures, it has since transcended geographical boundaries and been adopted by families around the world, each imbuing it with their own cultural significance and personal connections.
People
Darra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Darra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Darra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Darra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 451 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Darra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 759,987 US residents.
Is Darra a common name?
We classify Darra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 510 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Darra most popular?
The single biggest year for Darra was 1980, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Darra is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Darra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Darra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.