Eira
A feminine Welsh name meaning "snow" or "snowfall".
Name Census estimates that about 755 living Americans carry the first name Eira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Eira today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eira births was 2022 (80 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eira. 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
755
~ 1 in 453,979 Americans
Peak year
2022
80 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,385
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Eira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eira from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 358 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eira 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 Eira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eiras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 11 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Eira, while Washington, Tennessee, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 18 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Eira
The name Eira has its origins in the Welsh language, deriving from the Welsh word "eira," which means "snow." This connection to snow suggests that the name was likely first used in the mountainous regions of Wales during ancient times when snow played a significant role in the local culture and natural environment.
While the exact time period of the name's inception is uncertain, its Welsh roots indicate that it likely emerged during the early medieval period or even earlier when Welsh was the predominant language spoken in the region. The name may have been inspired by the beauty and purity associated with freshly fallen snow, making it a fitting choice for a newborn child.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Eira can be found in the ancient Welsh text known as the "Mabinogion," a collection of prose stories from the 12th and 13th centuries. This literary work contains tales of Welsh mythology and folklore, suggesting that the name Eira was in use during this time period and held cultural significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Eira. One prominent example is Eira Fukushima (1902-1995), a Japanese artist and printmaker known for her intricate woodblock prints depicting traditional Japanese scenes and landscapes. Another individual of note is Eira Vielhomme (1899-1942), a French resistance fighter who played a crucial role in the French Resistance during World War II, risking her life to aid Allied forces.
In the field of literature, Eira Stenberg (1884-1942) was a renowned Finnish author and playwright who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of feminism and social issues. Additionally, Eira Sørensen (1918-2007) was a Danish painter and ceramicist whose works are celebrated for their bold use of color and abstract expressionist style.
The name Eira has also graced the stage, with Eira Jones (1939-2021) being a Welsh actress and singer who had a successful career spanning both theater and television. Her performances in productions such as "Under Milk Wood" and "The House of Bernarda Alba" earned her critical acclaim.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Eira throughout history, highlighting its enduring appeal and the rich cultural heritage it represents.
People
Eira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Eira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 755 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eira 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 453,979 US residents.
Is Eira a common name?
We classify Eira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 762 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eira most popular?
The single biggest year for Eira was 2022, when 80 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eira is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eira 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.