Undra
A Swedish feminine name derived from the Norse goddess Unnr.
Name Census estimates that about 568 living Americans carry the first name Undra. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 88.2% of registrations being male. The average person named Undra today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Undra births was 1966 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Undra. 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
568
~ 1 in 603,441 Americans
Peak year
1966
41 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
2005 SSA rank
#10,184
Tracked since 1955
Gender
Gender distribution for Undra
Undra leans heavily male at 88.2% of total registrations, but 75 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Undra as a male name
- Ranked #13,241 in 2005
- 5 male births in 2005
- Peak: 1966 (36 births)
Undra as a female name
- Ranked #10,184 in 1974
- 5 female births in 1974
- Peak: 1967 (10 births)
Popularity
Undra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Undra from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 253 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Undra 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 Undra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Undras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Mississippi, Georgia, Texas recorded the most babies named Undra, while Louisiana, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 18 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Undra
The name Undra has its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, specifically Old Norse and Old Icelandic. It is believed to have derived from the Proto-Germanic word "undro," which meant "wonder" or "marvel." The name's earliest recorded use dates back to the Viking Age, around the 8th to 11th centuries.
In Old Norse mythology, Undra was a minor goddess associated with the concept of wonder and awe. She was often depicted as a beautiful and enigmatic figure, representing the mysteries of the natural world and the human capacity for amazement. Although her role was not as prominent as other deities in the Norse pantheon, she embodied the spirit of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Undra was Undra Þórðardóttir, a Viking shieldmaiden who lived in Iceland during the 10th century. According to historical accounts, she was renowned for her bravery and skill in battle, defying gender norms of the time. Her name served as a testament to her awe-inspiring presence on the battlefield.
In the 12th century, a Norwegian skald (poet) named Undra Bjarnarson gained fame for his poetic works celebrating the exploits of Norse kings and heroes. His poems were preserved in the Icelandic sagas, providing valuable insights into the cultural and literary traditions of the era.
During the Middle Ages, the name Undra saw limited usage across Scandinavia, though it remained more common in Iceland due to its strong linguistic ties to Old Norse. One notable figure was Undra Magnúsdóttir (1325-1392), an Icelandic noblewoman known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the preservation of the island's literary heritage.
In the 16th century, Undra Jónsdóttir (1518-1588) was a renowned Icelandic midwife and healer, renowned for her knowledge of traditional remedies and her compassionate care for mothers and infants. Her name, Undra, reflected the sense of awe and respect she garnered within her community.
As the name Undra transitioned into modern times, it maintained its connection to the concept of wonder and amazement. While its use has been relatively rare, it has occasionally been bestowed upon individuals whose lives or achievements have inspired a sense of marvel and admiration.
People
Undra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Undra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Undra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Undra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 568 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Undra 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 603,441 US residents.
Is Undra a common name?
We classify Undra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 633 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Undra most popular?
The single biggest year for Undra was 1966, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Undra is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Undra a male name?
Yes, 88.2% of people registered as Undra in the SSA data are male. 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.