Find out how popular the first name Deara has been for the last 39 years (from 1985 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Deara by gender

Based on the last 39 years of data, Deara is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Deara.

The history of the first name Deara

The name Deara has its origins in Old English and is derived from the word "deore," meaning "beloved" or "dear." It was commonly used as a feminine name during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deara can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals that documented the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The name appears in an entry dated 718 AD, referring to a woman named Deara who was the daughter of a nobleman.

In the 9th century, Deara was the name of a nun who lived in the Kingdom of Mercia, which covered much of central England at that time. She was known for her piety and was later venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.

During the Middle Ages, the name Deara continued to be used, albeit less frequently. One notable bearer of the name was Deara of Ely, a 12th-century English noblewoman who was a benefactor of the cathedral in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

In the 16th century, a woman named Deara Harley was born in Lancashire, England, in 1542. She was a member of the gentry and married into the influential Shuttleworth family.

Another historical figure with the name Deara was Deara Wilkinson, a 17th-century English Quaker who was born in 1646 and was known for her missionary work and writings on Quaker beliefs.

While the name Deara fell out of common usage in more recent centuries, it has been recorded throughout history as a name with deep roots in the English language and culture. Its meaning of "beloved" or "dear" has endured, reflecting the affection and esteem with which those who bore this name were held.

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 Deara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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