Electra

A girl's name of Greek origin with 1,134 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#9068 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

Any of several mythical women, including a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, one of the Pleiades, and one of the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys.

Electra is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, meaning 'bright' or 'shining.' In Greek mythology Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra whose story of loyalty and grief was dramatized by Sophocles and Euripides. It is also the name of a star in the Pleiades cluster — a name that spans tragedy, astronomy, and radiant light.

EtymologyShow more

In the American context, Electra is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1910–2024). Its Greek roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.

Today, Electra is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #9068), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.

At a Glance

1,134

Total births

Since 1910

2006

Peak

34 births

1910

First recorded

115 years of data

Compare Electra with another name

Popularity Over Time

Electra was #4635 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #9068, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1910Peak: 2006 (34 births)Current: #9068

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Electra
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	70	#7974	▼
2010s	150	#7935	▼
2000s	249	#5371	▲
1990s	135	#7606	▲
1980s	94	#7080	▲
1970s	93	#5745	▲
1960s	71	#5075	▲
1950s	57	#5303	▲
1940s	13	#4572	▼
1930s	56	#3722	▼
1920s	84	#3713	▲
1910s	62	#3173	—

The Story of Electra

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2006, Electra is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Electra are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.

How rare is Electra?

Only about 1 in every 327,273 babies born in 2024 was named Electra — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1910, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 249 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Electra by the numbers

Would fill 24 school buses
Meeting one Electra per day would take 3.1 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(98 years, 1910–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Electra
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	11	#9068	-3 (-21.4%)
2023	14	#7748	-2 (-12.5%)
2022	16	#7061	-3 (-15.8%)
2021	19	#6238	+9 (90.0%)
2020	10	#9754	0
2019	10	#9945	-9 (-47.4%)
2018	19	#6324	+6 (46.2%)
2017	13	#8425	+2 (18.2%)
2016	11	#9597	-6 (-35.3%)
2015	17	#7068	+4 (30.8%)
2014	13	#8606	-5 (-27.8%)
2013	18	#6815	+3 (20.0%)
2012	15	#7935	0
2011	15	#7907	-4 (-21.1%)
2010	19	#6723	-3 (-13.6%)
2009	22	#6169	+5 (29.4%)
2008	17	#7509	-8 (-32.0%)
2007	25	#5574	-9 (-26.5%)
2006	34	#4286	+3 (9.7%)
2005	31	#4402	+2 (6.9%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Electra a boy's or girl's name?

Electra is primarily a girl's name.

When was Electra most popular?

Electra reached its peak popularity in 2006 with 34 births that year. It is currently ranked #9068 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Electra?

Electra is currently ranked #9068 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,134 babies since 1910.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1910–2024