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Home › Baby Names Directory › Yara

Yara

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAH-rah /ˈjɑː.rɑː/Medium

Meaning: Yara is a Brazilian name from Tupi Iara, a water-nymph of folklore, and also an Arabic girl's name glossed 'small butterfly' or 'able to do anything'. It is overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, we note the strong lean.Low

In 30 seconds: A Brazilian and Arabic name: Yara means 'small butterfly' or names a water-spirit (said 'YAH-rah'). Strongly a girl's name, which we note.
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Origin LowArabic, Tupi
MeaningYara is a Brazilian name from Tupi Iara, a water-nymph of folklore, and also an Arabic girl's name glossed 'small butterfly' or 'able to do anything'. It is overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, we note the strong lean.
U.S. rank (2025)#10639 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 31

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520182025

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

Yara comes from the Tupi Iara, a water-nymph of Brazilian legend, and separately from an Arabic girl's name read as 'small butterfly'. Across both cultures it is worn overwhelmingly by girls, so its use here for a boy runs against a strong lean, which we note (said 'YAH-rah').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against heavy girls' use. Rare-for-boys, lyrical, and cross-sex.

Did you know? Yara names a Tupi water-nymph in Brazilian folklore and, in Arabic, is glossed 'small butterfly' — but it is overwhelmingly a girl's name, so the boys' use here leans against the grain, which we note (said 'YAH-rah').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Yara — Tupi/Brazilian water-spirit; Arabic 'small butterfly'; strongly girls'

Variations

IaraYarahIarah

Nicknames

YarRara

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Yara…

Yariel— a like Ya- boy's name
Amara— a like lyrical -ara name
Tiago— a like Brazilian boy's pick
Mateo— a like Latin heritage name

Explore names like Yara

By themearabiccross-sexlyricalbrazilian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yara mean?

Yara names a Tupi water-nymph in Brazil and, in Arabic, is glossed 'small butterfly'; it is overwhelmingly a girl's name, which we note.

How do you pronounce Yara?

It's said YAH-rah /ˈjɑː.rɑː/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Yara a boy or girl name?

Here Yara is used as a boy's name, but it is overwhelmingly a girl's name, which we note.

How popular is Yara?

Yara is very rare for boys in the U.S. and far more common for girls.

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