Thara
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "star" or "bright".
Name Census estimates that about 273 living Americans carry the first name Thara. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Thara today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thara births was 2024 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thara. 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
273
~ 1 in 1,255,510 Americans
Peak year
2024
26 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,118
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Thara: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thara 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 84 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
Thara 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 Thara 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 Thara
The given name Thara has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. Its earliest usage can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was often used as a name for deities or revered figures. The name Thara is derived from the Sanskrit word "tara," which means "star" or "celestial being."
In ancient Hindu mythology, Tara is the name of a prominent goddess who is revered as the embodiment of universal compassion and the protector of navigation and travelers. She is also associated with the concept of liberation and is often depicted as a beautiful woman adorned with jewels, holding a lotus flower.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thara can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this text, Thara is mentioned as the name of a prince who played a significant role in the great war between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Thara. One of the most famous was Thara Bhai (1548–1618), a revered Sikh warrior and poet who was a close companion of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. His writings and compositions are an integral part of the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Another prominent figure was Thara Singh Sandhanwalia (1822–1887), a renowned Sikh military leader and ruler of the princely state of Kapurthala in Punjab, India. He played a significant role in the Anglo-Sikh Wars and was known for his bravery and strategic military prowess.
In the field of literature, Thara Saheb (1891–1971) was a renowned Urdu poet and writer from India. Her poetic works, characterized by their lyrical beauty and profound themes, earned her widespread acclaim and recognition.
In more recent times, Thara Memory (born 1938) is a celebrated Thai artist and painter known for her vibrant and expressive works that capture the essence of Thai culture and traditions.
Lastly, Thara Naidu (1934–2018) was a prominent South African activist and politician who played a crucial role in the anti-apartheid movement. She served as a member of the African National Congress and dedicated her life to the pursuit of equality and justice.
People
Thara + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thara as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Thara: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thara?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 273 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thara 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 1,255,510 US residents.
Is Thara a common name?
We classify Thara as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 280 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thara most popular?
The single biggest year for Thara was 2024, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thara is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Thara a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thara 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.