Eira
A girl's name of Welsh origin with 762 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A taxonomic genus within the family Mustelidae – tayras, of tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America.
Eira is a girl's baby name of Welsh origin meaning 'snow.' In Welsh mythology, Eira is associated with the purity and silence of snowfall. The name is beautifully simple — four letters that evoke the quiet beauty of a winter landscape — and is gaining traction internationally alongside other short Welsh names like Ffion and Seren.
EtymologyShow more
Eira first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1979. First appearing in the 1970s, Eira emerged during a period of rapid naming innovation in America, when parents increasingly created new names or adopted them from global cultures.
Its Welsh classification suggests a path from welsh linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Eira climbed 9549 spots in the last 20 years — from #11934 to #2385.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 358 | #2496 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 321 | #5642 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 51 | #14135 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 11 | #13661 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 16 | #10491 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 5 | #10638 | — |
The Story of Eira
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Eira is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Eira are most likely born between 2012 and 2024.
How rare is Eira?
Only about 1 in every 47,368 babies born in 2024 was named Eira — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1979, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2020s with 358 births that decade.
Eira by the numbers
- Would fill 16 school buses
- Meeting one Eira per day would take 2.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(28 years, 1979–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76 | #2385 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2593 |
| 2022 | 80 | #2321 |
| 2021 | 62 | #2755 |
| 2020 | 72 | #2424 |
| 2019 | 65 | #2659 |
| 2018 | 58 | #2881 |
| 2017 | 37 | #4017 |
| 2016 | 37 | #4020 |
| 2015 | 33 | #4325 |
| 2014 | 29 | #4810 |
| 2013 | 21 | #6081 |
| 2012 | 21 | #6175 |
| 2011 | 11 | #9917 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11533 |
| 2009 | 10 | #10903 |
| 2008 | 5 | #18320 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10332 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14008 |
| 2005 | 5 | #17256 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eira a boy's or girl's name?
When was Eira most popular?
How popular is the name Eira?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1979–2024