Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Amara
GirlIgbo, Sanskrit· “grace; also immortal”
- Meaning
- grace; also immortal
- Origin
- Igbo, Sanskrit
- Pronunciation
- uh-MAHR-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #98
- US babies 2025
- 2,630
- Best rank
- #98 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Amara
Amara is an Igbo and Sanskrit name that is usually said to mean “grace; also immortal”.
Amara has more than one root, which helps explain its wide appeal. In Igbo, spoken in southeastern Nigeria, Amara means grace, and it is a familiar given name there. In Sanskrit-derived languages a related form, Amar, means immortal. English speakers sometimes connect it to the Latin amarus, bitter, or to the unfading amaranth flower, though those links are looser. The result is a name that feels international, soft and polished, with open vowels that are easy to say in many languages. Mara and Amy are possible nicknames, though the full name is short enough to stand alone.
Popularity over time
Amara first appears in US Social Security records in 1961. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 26 different years, starting in 2000. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #98, and its highest count, 2,630 babies. Use has grown 281% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #2,868 in 1980, #797 in 2000, #654 in 2010, and #98 in 2025. Of the 28,982 US girls named Amara since records began, 45% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 9,418 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Georgia, Juniper, Sienna, Margot, and Cecilia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Amara ranked highest in New Mexico, Oregon, and District of Columbia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #31 | 26 |
| Oregon | #74 | 40 |
| District of Columbia | #74 | 9 |
| Vermont | #75 | 5 |
| Florida | #76 | 208 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Amara over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Amara is usually pronounced uh-MAHR-uh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Amara
A few middle names that flow with Amara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Amara
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Lists that include Amara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Amara mean?
Amara is an Igbo and Sanskrit name that is usually said to mean “grace; also immortal”.
What is the origin of the name Amara?
Amara has Igbo and Sanskrit roots. Amara has more than one root, which helps explain its wide appeal.
Is Amara a popular name?
Yes. Amara ranked #98 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Amara a boy or girl name?
Amara is mainly a girl's name. About 99% of US babies named Amara over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Amara?
Amara is usually pronounced uh-MAHR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings