Elara

At a Glance

Origin

Greek (mythological name)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

eh-LAR-ahListen

Elara is a Greek mythological name, pronounced eh-LAR-ah (IPA /ɛˈlɑːrə/). You may come across the claim that it means 'bright, shining light,' but that doesn't actually trace back to Elara itself — it looks like a mix-up with names like Eleanor, Elena, or Helen. If you're considering Elara, it's best to go in valuing its Greek mythological roots and its sound rather than a meaning that isn't really attached to the name.

Meaning & Origin of Elara

Origin: Greek (mythological name).

A common claim: Elara is often said to mean 'bright, shining light'. Actually: Elara has no attested lexical meaning of its own; the 'shining light' gloss looks like a conflation with Eleanor/Elena/Helen, not evidence about Elara itself.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Elara

Popularity of Elara

Elara ranked #1156 in the SSA's 2024 data, with 208 babies given the name — and that's also its peak rank across the full 2002-2024 record, so it's never been used more than it is right now.

Names Like Elara

These names share Elara’s style, era or origin.

• Electra
• Eleni
• Helene
• Idalia
• Iridessa
• Lenore

FAQ

What does the name Elara mean?

Elara is often said to mean ‘bright, shining light’. Elara has no attested lexical meaning of its own; the ‘shining light’ gloss looks like a conflation with Eleanor/Elena/Helen, not evidence about Elara itself.

How do you pronounce Elara?

Elara is pronounced eh-LAR-ah (IPA: /ɛˈlɑːrə/).

Is Elara a popular name right now?

Elara is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #1156 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 2002–2024.)

Make Elara Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Elara, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.