Irna
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "gazelle" or "small deer".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Irna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Irna today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Irna births was 1918 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Irna. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Irna is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Irnas were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Irna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1918
5 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1960 SSA rank
#6,725
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Irna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Irna from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Irna remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Irna 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 Irna 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 Irna
The name Irna has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world. Tracing back to around the 2nd century BCE, it is derived from the Sanskrit word "Irna," which means "wave" or "ripple." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with the rhythmic flow of water or the undulating movements of the ocean.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, there are references to deities and mythological figures with names related to water and natural elements. While no specific mention of the name Irna has been found in these texts, the name's association with the concept of waves and ripples aligns with the reverence for nature and the cyclical patterns of life in Hindu philosophy.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Irna was a Buddhist monk and scholar who lived in the 7th century CE in the region of modern-day India. Known for his contributions to Buddhist teachings and his extensive travels throughout Asia, this monk played a role in the spread of Buddhism across the continent.
In the 12th century, there was a notable figure named Irna who was a renowned poet and courtesan in the royal court of the Delhi Sultanate. Her poetic works, which focused on themes of love and longing, were widely celebrated and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.
During the 16th century, an Irna was mentioned in historical records as a skilled artisan and textile weaver in the city of Varanasi. Her intricate designs and exceptional craftsmanship earned her recognition among the nobility of the Mughal Empire.
In the 19th century, an Irna was a prominent educator and social reformer who advocated for women's education and worked to establish schools for girls in rural areas of India. Her efforts helped pave the way for greater access to education for women in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Irna was a renowned classical dancer from the early 20th century. Born in 1905, she dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the ancient Indian dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Her performances and teachings helped to revive these art forms and gained her international acclaim.
While the name Irna has its roots in ancient Sanskrit, it has transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries over time, appearing in various regions and contexts throughout history. Each individual with this name has contributed to the rich tapestry of human experience, whether through artistic expression, scholarly pursuits, or social advocacy.
People
Irna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Irna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Irna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Irna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Irna 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Irna a common name?
We classify Irna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 25 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Irna most popular?
The single biggest year for Irna was 1918, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Irna is about 76 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Irna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Irna 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.