Alaira
A girl's name of Irish origin with 193 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Alaira reads as a modern invention — a name that emerged in the 2000s and was likely coined by parents looking for something fresh rather than inherited.
The open, warm quality of its ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries — gives it a distinctive rhythm that pairs well with shorter middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Alaira ranks #9551 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Alaira is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, a variant of Alara or Alara, possibly blending the Irish álainn ('beautiful') with the -ira ending common in Latin and Slavic names. With nearly 200 births, Alaira has a flowing, romantic quality that bridges Celtic and Mediterranean naming traditions, creating something new from familiar beautiful sounds.
EtymologyShow more
Alaira appeared in SSA records in 2000, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly draw from global cultures, invent new names, and blend sounds to create something entirely original. Its Irish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 193 recorded births, Alaira has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Alaira climbed 2113 spots in the last 20 years — from #11664 to #9551.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 42 | #11270 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 77 | #12308 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 74 | #12670 | — |
The Story of Alaira
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2010, Alaira is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Alaira are most likely born between 2000 and 2020.
How rare is Alaira?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Alaira — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2000, peaked in the 2010s with 77 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Alaira by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(24 years, 2000–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #9551 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10331 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12288 |
| 2021 | 11 | #8988 |
| 2020 | 5 | #15193 |
| 2018 | 7 | #12522 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16014 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12938 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9506 |
| 2014 | 8 | #11967 |
| 2013 | 7 | #13212 |
| 2012 | 5 | #16977 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10408 |
| 2010 | 17 | #7228 |
| 2009 | 7 | #13769 |
| 2008 | 8 | #12618 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11667 |
| 2006 | 8 | #12462 |
| 2005 | 5 | #16561 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11664 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2000–2024