Vara

♀ Girl

Pronounced VAH-ruh /ˈvɑː.rə/Medium

Meaning: From Sanskrit vara, 'boon; blessing; choice gift'. In the U.S. it is also read simply as a short spin on Vera ('faith; true'), so the route a given family means is uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Two soft beats and a generous meaning: Vara is Sanskrit for 'boon; blessing' (said 'VAH-ruh'), and doubles as a spin on Vera.

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Origin LowSanskrit, Indian

MeaningFrom Sanskrit vara, 'boon; blessing; choice gift'. In the U.S. it is also read simply as a short spin on Vera ('faith; true'), so the route a given family means is uncertain, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#13328 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 753

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

Vara comes from Sanskrit vara, 'boon; blessing; choice gift' — the word for the wish granted in classical Indian tales. It travels easily in English, where it also reads as a trim spin on Vera. A short, warm, unfussy name (said 'VAH-ruh').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S., carried mostly by Indian-American families. Rare, gentle, and easy to say.

Did you know? In Sanskrit a vara is a boon — the gift a god grants in the old stories. The name carries that sense of blessing, while U.S. ears often hear a cousin of Vera (said 'VAH-ruh').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Vara — Sanskrit vara 'boon; blessing'; Vera-adjacent in English use

Variations

VeraVarahVaara

Nicknames

VarVari

Famous Bearers

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If you like Vara…

Vera— the name Vara most often echoes

Tara— a like two-beat Sanskrit-rooted pick

Mira— a similar soft, vowel-open choice

Kara— a like short and gentle name

Explore names like Vara

By themeheritage short sanskrit gentle

By meaningGift / Blessing Truth Snow / Winter

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Vara mean?

Vara is Sanskrit for 'boon; blessing; choice gift'. In the U.S. it is also read as a short form of Vera.

How do you pronounce Vara?

It's said VAH-ruh /ˈvɑː.rə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Vara a boy or girl name?

Vara is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Vara?

Vara is a rare name for girls in the U.S.