
The short answer
Ira is a feminine name used in English and Hebrew. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Means ‘watchful’ in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of King David's priest." It ranked #1086 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, means ‘watchful’ in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of King David's priest. The entry lists its usage as English, Hebrew, Biblical.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Ira ranked #1086 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #1086 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Ira in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ira mean?
Ira means "watchful", according to Behind the Name.
Is Ira a popular name?
Ira ranked #1086 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Ira a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Ira appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Ira (1) — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.