Ira
From a Hebrew name עִירָא ('ira), from a word meaning "watchful".
Every Ira since 1880 — 62,535 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ira
Ira is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #822 in 2025 with 301 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 62,535 American babies have been named Ira — about 89% boys and 11% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1947, when 968 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ira stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ira year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 222 | #1,086 | 301 | #822 |
| 2024 | 154 | #1,438 | 233 | #972 |
| 2023 | 161 | #1,399 | 266 | #880 |
| 2022 | 196 | #1,231 | 288 | #846 |
| 2021 | 168 | #1,331 | 301 | #810 |
| 2020 | 152 | #1,435 | 289 | #803 |
| 2019 | 157 | #1,426 | 252 | #873 |
| 2018 | 147 | #1,491 | 216 | #961 |
| 2017 | 128 | #1,679 | 214 | #968 |
| 2016 | 125 | #1,708 | 218 | #952 |
| 2015 | 97 | #2,031 | 199 | #1,021 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1,930 | 160 | #1,170 |
| 2013 | 78 | #2,353 | 156 | #1,156 |
| 2012 | 60 | #2,880 | 150 | #1,197 |
| 2011 | 46 | #3,471 | 110 | #1,478 |
| 2010 | 38 | #3,990 | 131 | #1,313 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5,608 | 127 | #1,355 |
| 2008 | 16 | #7,884 | 98 | #1,604 |
| 2007 | 17 | #7,520 | 111 | #1,451 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6,976 | 102 | #1,494 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9,705 | 94 | #1,519 |
| 2004 | 12 | #8,907 | 107 | #1,360 |
| 2003 | 13 | #8,177 | 105 | #1,320 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10,547 | 137 | #1,087 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,652 | 88 | #1,419 |
| 2000 | — | — | 101 | #1,284 |
| 1995 | 9 | #9,037 | 112 | #1,064 |
| 1990 | 14 | #6,250 | 151 | #838 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7,168 | 161 | #693 |
| 1980 | 17 | #4,394 | 282 | #506 |
| 1975 | 16 | #4,008 | 322 | #443 |
| 1970 | 21 | #3,147 | 349 | #437 |
| 1965 | 25 | #2,428 | 408 | #385 |
| 1960 | 33 | #1,995 | 599 | #318 |
| 1955 | 51 | #1,413 | 680 | #274 |
| 1950 | 58 | #1,216 | 797 | #231 |
| 1945 | 68 | #921 | 658 | #212 |
| 1940 | 68 | #864 | 625 | #205 |
| 1935 | 70 | #816 | 550 | #216 |
| 1930 | 80 | #788 | 702 | #199 |
| 1925 | 93 | #769 | 788 | #183 |
| 1920 | 81 | #809 | 829 | #170 |
| 1915 | 75 | #764 | 812 | #146 |
| 1910 | 45 | #633 | 233 | #138 |
| 1905 | 43 | #520 | 169 | #128 |
| 1900 | 50 | #480 | 218 | #107 |
| 1895 | 23 | #649 | 207 | #95 |
| 1890 | 17 | #653 | 209 | #82 |
| 1885 | 14 | #590 | 235 | #75 |
| 1880 | 16 | #426 | 249 | #66 |
Famous people named Ira
- Ira Levin Writer · 1929–2007
- Ira Gershwin Musician · 1896–1983
- Ira Sprague Bowen Physicist · 1898–1973
- Ira Sachs Film director · b. 1965
- Ira Losco Singer · b. 1981
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ira mean?
From a Hebrew name עִירָא ('ira), from a word meaning "watchful".
How popular is the name Ira in 2025?
Ira ranked #822 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 301 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ira?
62,535 babies have been named Ira in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ira most popular?
Ira peaked in 1947, when 968 newborns received the name.
Is Ira a boy or girl name?
Ira is used for both: about 11% of babies named Ira have been girls and 89% boys.
Is the name Ira rising or falling?
Ira is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ira?
Well-known people named Ira include Ira Levin (writer), Ira Gershwin (musician), Ira Sprague Bowen (physicist).