Myrka
Derived from the Greek name "Myrrha" meaning "bitter" or "fragrant myrrh".
Name Census estimates that about 514 living Americans carry the first name Myrka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Myrka today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Myrka births was 2001 (73 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Myrka. 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
514
~ 1 in 666,837 Americans
Peak year
2001
73 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2009 SSA rank
#14,757
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Myrka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Myrka from the 1990s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 349 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
Myrka 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 Myrka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Myrkas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Myrka, while Georgia, Florida, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 54 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Myrka
The name Myrka is of ancient Greek origin, with its roots dating back to the classical period of Greek civilization. It is derived from the Greek word "myrrha," which means "myrrh," a fragrant resin used in perfumes, incense, and religious rituals.
The earliest recorded use of the name Myrka can be traced back to the 5th century BCE in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. It was a relatively uncommon name during this time period but held a special significance due to its association with the sacred myrrh resin.
In Greek mythology, myrrh was closely linked to the goddess Aphrodite, the deity of love, beauty, and fertility. This connection likely contributed to the name's symbolism and its use as a feminine given name.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Myrka was a Greek noblewoman who lived in the 4th century BCE on the island of Rhodes. She was renowned for her beauty and her dedication to the worship of Aphrodite.
In the 3rd century BCE, a philosopher and scholar named Myrka of Samos made significant contributions to the study of ethics and moral philosophy. Her writings, though largely lost, were highly regarded in her time.
During the Byzantine era, a notable figure named Myrka of Constantinople lived in the 6th century CE. She was a prominent patron of the arts and commissioned several magnificent churches and monuments in the city.
In the Middle Ages, a renowned herbalist and healer named Myrka of Salerno lived in the 11th century in southern Italy. She was celebrated for her knowledge of medicinal plants and her skill in treating various ailments.
In the 15th century, a Spanish noblewoman named Myrka de Aragón played a pivotal role in the court of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. She was a skilled diplomat and negotiator, and her influence helped shape the political landscape of the time.
While the name Myrka has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon, perhaps due to its unique and somewhat esoteric origins. Nevertheless, its connection to ancient Greek culture, mythology, and the sacred myrrh resin has endowed it with a rich and fascinating history.
People
Myrka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Myrka as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Myrka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Myrka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 514 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Myrka 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 666,837 US residents.
Is Myrka a common name?
We classify Myrka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 525 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Myrka most popular?
The single biggest year for Myrka was 2001, when 73 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Myrka is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Myrka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Myrka 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.