Dera

♀ Girl

Pronounced DEER-uh /ˈdɪr.ə/Medium

Meaning: Dera is a short, opaque name whose source is uncertain. It may be a clipped or respelled form of Dora - from Greek doron, 'gift' - or a stand-alone coinage; the record does not fix a single origin.Low

In 30 seconds: Dera is a short vintage name of uncertain origin, possibly linked to Dora, 'gift'. Rare, said DEER-uh.

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Origin LowEnglish, American

MeaningDera is a short, opaque name whose source is uncertain. It may be a clipped or respelled form of Dora - from Greek doron, 'gift' - or a stand-alone coinage; the record does not fix a single origin.

U.S. rank (2009)#18038 ↘ Falling

2009 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1915

Total births (all-time)≈ 440

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dera is a brief, uncertain name. It may be a shortened or respelled form of Dora, from the Greek doron, 'gift', or an independent coinage in the vintage taste for tidy, vowel-bright girls' names. No single origin is documented, so we keep the read honest and open.

It was always rare, given to only about twenty girls a year around its 1915 peak, and it stayed a scarce, local choice. A Dera would be of great-grandparent age now, and the name reads as an obscure vintage short name rather than a revived one.

Did you know? Short two-beat names like Dera often arose as respellings or clips of longer names, and their exact parent is frequently lost, which is honest to note here.

Overall data confidence 25%

References - Dera — Short name of uncertain origin; possible link to Dora (Greek doron, 'gift')

Variations

DoraDiraDeira

Nicknames

Dee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dera…

Dora— a possible parent, 'gift'

Vera— a like short vintage girl's name

Reba— another brief old-fashioned name

Nola— a similar two-beat vintage name

Explore names like Dera

By themeuncertain vintage short feminine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dera mean?

Its origin is uncertain; it may be a short or respelled form of Dora, from a Greek word for 'gift'.

How do you pronounce Dera?

It is said DEER-uh /ˈdɪr.ə/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Dera a boy or girl name?

Dera has been used as a girl's name.

Is Dera a popular name?

No, it was always rare, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the nineteen-tens.