Diarra
A Malian given name derived from the Arabic word meaning "wealthy one".
Name Census estimates that about 412 living Americans carry the first name Diarra. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 81.7% of registrations being female. The average person named Diarra today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Diarra births was 1994 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Diarra. 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
412
~ 1 in 831,928 Americans
Peak year
1994
26 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2001 SSA rank
#9,698
Tracked since 1971
Gender
Gender distribution for Diarra
Diarra leans heavily female at 81.7% of total registrations, but 78 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Diarra as a male name
- Ranked #11,025 in 2001
- 5 male births in 2001
- Peak: 1972 (13 births)
Diarra as a female name
- Ranked #9,698 in 2024
- 10 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1994 (20 births)
Popularity
Diarra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Diarra from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 145 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Diarra 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 Diarra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Diarras live
Origin
Meaning and history of Diarra
The name Diarra has its origins in the Bambara language, which is spoken by the Bambara people of Mali in West Africa. The name is believed to have originated in the 13th century during the era of the Mali Empire, one of the wealthiest and most powerful empires in African history.
The name Diarra is derived from the Bambara word "diarran," which means "strength" or "power." It was a common name given to boys born into the noble and warrior classes of the Bambara society, as it symbolized the qualities of bravery, resilience, and leadership that were highly valued in their culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Diarra can be found in the epic oral traditions of the Bambara people, particularly in the tales of the legendary hero Sundiata Keita, who founded the Mali Empire in the early 13th century. Sundiata's sister, Diarra, played a significant role in his rise to power and was respected for her wisdom and courage.
Throughout the centuries, the name Diarra has been borne by several notable figures in West African history. One such individual was Diarra Kanté (c. 1710-1758), a renowned military leader and advisor to the Segu Bambara Empire in present-day Mali and Guinea. He was renowned for his strategic brilliance and played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire.
Another notable bearer of the name was Diarra Traoré (1892-1942), a Malian diplomat and politician who served as the first President of the French Sudanese Union, a political organization that advocated for the rights of the people in French West Africa during the colonial era.
In the realm of literature, the name Diarra is associated with the acclaimed Malian writer Diarra Kéïta (1925-2021), whose novels and short stories explored themes of tradition, identity, and the challenges faced by African societies in the post-colonial era. His works, including "The Interpreter" and "The Guardian of the Word," were widely celebrated and translated into several languages.
The name Diarra has also been carried by prominent figures in other fields, such as Diarra Kiliba Coulibaly (1962-), a Malian economist and former Minister of Finance, and Diarra Karim (1953-), a renowned Malian architect known for his innovative designs that blend traditional and modern elements.
While the name Diarra has its roots in the Bambara culture, it has transcended its origins and is now used by families across West Africa and in the African diaspora worldwide, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and enduring legacy of the Bambara people.
People
Diarra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Diarra 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
Diarra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Diarra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 412 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Diarra 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 831,928 US residents.
Is Diarra a common name?
We classify Diarra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 426 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Diarra most popular?
The single biggest year for Diarra was 1994, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Diarra is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Diarra a female name?
Yes, 81.7% of people registered as Diarra 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.