Lyra

At a Glance: Name: Lyra – Meaning: a lyre, the stringed musical instrument – Origin: Ancient Greek (via Latin) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: LY-rah

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Lyra comes from Ancient Greek, by way of Latin, and means a lyre, the stringed instrument. It has a storybook, romantic quality with a classic feel, and it's pronounced LY-rah. It's a name for a daughter that carries an actual meaning tied to that instrument.

Meaning & Origin of Lyra

Meaning: A lyre, the stringed musical instrument.

Origin: Ancient Greek (via Latin).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Lyra

Phonetic: LY-rah   IPA: /ˈlaɪrə/

Popularity of Lyra

Lyra ranked #482 among baby girl names in both 2023 and 2024, with 638 girls given the name each year — its highest point since national records began in 1893.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1893–2024.

Make Lyra Name Art

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

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Anastasia
• Cassandra
• Evangeline
• Ophelia
• Alexandra
• Alexandria

FAQ

What does the name Lyra mean?

A lyre, the stringed musical instrument. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lyra)

How do you pronounce Lyra?

Lyra is pronounced LY-rah (IPA: /ˈlaɪrə/).

Is Lyra a popular name right now?

Lyra is near its all-time peak (#482 in 2023), ranked #482 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1893–2024.)

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