Tara

♀ Girl

Pronounced TAIR-uh /ˈtɛr.ə/High

Meaning: From Irish Gaelic teamhair or tara meaning 'hill' or 'elevated place' (the Hill of Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland); also from Sanskrit tara meaning 'star', and a Buddhist Bodhisattva name meaning 'she who saves'High

In 30 seconds: Tara is a powerful cross-cultural name meaning hill in Irish Gaelic (the sacred seat of Irish kings) and star in Sanskrit (a Buddhist goddess of compassion). Its short, two-syllable warmth has made it a beloved mid-century name.

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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Arabic, Sanskrit

MeaningFrom Irish Gaelic teamhair or tara meaning 'hill' or 'elevated place' (the Hill of Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland); also from Sanskrit tara meaning 'star', and a Buddhist Bodhisattva name meaning 'she who saves'

U.S. rank (2025)#847 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births322 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1972

Total births (all-time)≈ 175,812

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Tara has two major distinct etymological streams. In Irish Gaelic, Teamhair (anglicized as Tara) means 'elevated place' or 'hill' and refers to the Hill of Tara in County Meath — the sacred seat of the ancient High Kings of Ireland and a ceremonial center of profound religious significance. In Sanskrit, Tara means 'star' and is the name of a beloved Buddhist and Hindu goddess of compassion.

As an English-language given name, Tara rose to prominence in the mid-20th century, boosted by Scarlett O'Hara's plantation home Tara in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936). The name peaked in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States and remains familiar. Its cross-cultural resonance — Irish royalty, Buddhist compassion, Hollywood romance — gives it unusual depth for a two-syllable name.

Did you know? The Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland — the seat of the ancient High Kings of Ireland — was the spiritual and political center of the island for over 4,000 years, making Tara one of the most historically charged place names in Irish culture.

Overall data confidence 88%

Behind the Name — Tara — Irish Gaelic and Sanskrit etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

TarraTarahTera

Nicknames

Taz

Famous Bearers

★Tara Lipinski (1982–present)
American figure skater who became the youngest Olympic champion in individual figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

If you like Tara…

Sienna— same warm two-syllable Italian-Irish feel with a mid-century appeal

Cara— shares the short, warm, Irish-rooted two-syllable feminine quality

Claire— same generation of elegant, short, classic feminine names

Fiona— fellow Irish-origin name of similar vintage and Celtic feeling

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tara mean?

Tara means hill or elevated place in Irish Gaelic (the sacred Hill of Tara), and star or savior goddess in Sanskrit.

How do you pronounce Tara?

It is said TAIR-uh, with two syllables.

Is Tara an Irish name?

Yes — Tara is directly connected to the Hill of Tara in Ireland, the ancient seat of the High Kings, though it also has Sanskrit roots.

Is Tara a popular name?

Tara peaked in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s and remains a recognized classic.