This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Yara – 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-ah
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
Phonetic: YAR-ah IPA: /ˈjɑːrə/
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.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.
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.
FAQ
What does the name Yara mean?
In tupi, ‘lady of the water’ — a water-spirit figure in brazilian folklore.. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Yara)
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.)
📊 How popular is Yara? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Yara
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
