Yara

At a Glance

Meaning

In Tupi, 'lady of the water' — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore.

Origin

Two unrelated origins: Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) and Arabic

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

YAR-ahListen

Yara draws from two unrelated origins — Tupi, an indigenous language of Brazil, and Arabic — which gives it an international, well-traveled feel wrapped in a short, modern sound. In Tupi, it means 'lady of the water,' a water-spirit figure from Brazilian folklore; the Arabic name shares the spelling but doesn't have a confirmed meaning of its own. It's pronounced YAR-ah, and if you've come across the claim that it means 'small butterfly,' that one doesn't check out — no reliable source confirms it, so it's best left unconfirmed.

Meaning & Origin of Yara

Meaning: In Tupi, 'lady of the water' — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore..

Origin: two unrelated origins: Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) and Arabic.

A common claim: means 'small butterfly' Actually: 'Small butterfly' is a popular gloss for the Arabic form of Yara, but it isn't well established. The better-attested meaning, 'lady of the water,' actually belongs to the separate Tupi name Iara/Yara.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Yara

Popularity of Yara

Yara ranked #578 in 2024, given to 519 baby girls, just a step down from its recent peak of #572 in 2022, when 525 girls were given the name.

Names Like Yara

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

• Ayra
• Azha
• Farah
• Fira
• Laela
• Lulu

FAQ

What does the name Yara mean?

In Tupi, ‘lady of the water’ — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore.. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Yara?

Yara is pronounced YAR-ah (IPA: /ˈjɑːrə/).

Is Yara a popular name right now?

Yara is near its all-time peak (#572 in 2022), ranked #578 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1969–2024.)

Make Yara Name Art

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