Tyra
Primarily a girl's name of Old Norse origin with 14,594 recorded births. Also given to 143 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name originating as a coinage, of African American usage.
Tyra is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the Scandinavian Þýri or Tyra, meaning 'Thor's battle' or 'strong in battle' — named for the Norse god of thunder, associated with strength and protection. It is a name with genuine Viking warrior heritage.
Tyra became a household name through supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks, whose extraordinary career as America's Next Top Model host and fashion icon gave the name a glamorous, powerful association that has influenced baby naming for decades. With over 14,500 recorded births, Tyra has been consistently popular in African American communities, where it carries both Norse strength and contemporary American celebrity culture.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Tyra belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Old Norse naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Old Norse names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Tyra’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tyra was #704 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4362, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 181 | #4142 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 714 | #2592 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 3,688 | #825 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 4,654 | #669 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 1,496 | #1025 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 2,222 | #714 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 1,095 | #1117 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 369 | #1811 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 135 | #2836 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 13 | #4032 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 7 | #4268 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 20 | #3956 | — |
The Story of Tyra
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1998, Tyra is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Tyra are most likely born between 1988 and 2008.
How rare is Tyra?
Only about 1 in every 109,091 babies born in 2024 was named Tyra — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1914, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 4,654 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tyra by the numbers
- Would fill 304 school buses
- Meeting one Tyra per day would take 40 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(90 years, 1914–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | #4362 |
| 2023 | 28 | #4853 |
| 2022 | 38 | #3958 |
| 2021 | 49 | #3288 |
| 2020 | 33 | #4250 |
| 2019 | 51 | #3165 |
| 2018 | 54 | #3047 |
| 2017 | 66 | #2660 |
| 2016 | 61 | #2824 |
| 2015 | 66 | #2708 |
| 2014 | 70 | #2557 |
| 2013 | 85 | #2210 |
| 2012 | 69 | #2629 |
| 2011 | 86 | #2214 |
| 2010 | 106 | #1910 |
| 2009 | 146 | #1555 |
| 2008 | 186 | #1329 |
| 2007 | 286 | #950 |
| 2006 | 439 | #660 |
| 2005 | 430 | #646 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tyra as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Tyra has also been given to 143 boys in the U.S. since 1921.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tyra a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tyra most popular?
How popular is the name Tyra?
Can Tyra be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1914–2024