Meaning & Origin
A captain of King David, a minor figure in the Bible mentioned in 2 Samuel 20:26.
Ira is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew Ira meaning "watchful" or "alert," a name appearing in the Bible as one of King David's champions. It has also been used as a short form of the Persian name Iraj.
With over 55,000 U.S. births recorded, Ira has been a consistent American name for generations. Lyricist Ira Gershwin — who collaborated with his brother George on the Great American Songbook — gave the name its most enduring creative association. This American Life host Ira Glass has kept it contemporary.