Dara
Say it: DAR-a/ˈdɑːɹə/
Boy and boyIrishMeans usually linked with the oak4 letters2 syllables
#108
in Ireland (2025)
#111 with spellings combined
52
babies in 2025
#72
best rank (2010)
2,963
babies since 1964
Down 35
10-year rank change
Dara through the years
Compare with another name →boysgirls
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 52 | #111 | 11 | #353 |
| 2024 | 52 | #109 | 6 | #546 |
| 2023 | 60 | #99 | 11 | #335 |
| 2022 | 58 | #109 | 6 | #556 |
| 2021 | 53 | #121 | 11 | #364 |
| 2020 | 49 | #127 | 14 | #292 |
| 2019 | 79 | #89 | 12 | #344 |
| 2018 | 67 | #101 | 15 | #296 |
| 2017 | 78 | #92 | 17 | #272 |
| 2016 | 71 | #98 | 5 | #663 |
| 2015 | 102 | #76 | 10 | #433 |
| 2014 | 99 | #80 | 6 | #588 |
| 2013 | 106 | #75 | 3 | #894 |
| 2012 | 94 | #86 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 111 | #73 | 7 | #554 |
| 2010 | 109 | #72 | 4 | #758 |
| 2009 | 106 | #76 | 5 | #641 |
| 2008 | 99 | #81 | 9 | #471 |
| 2007 | 93 | #80 | 7 | #506 |
| 2006 | 86 | #77 | 8 | #433 |
| 2005 | 78 | #81 | 9 | #372 |
| 2004 | 80 | #81 | 8 | #370 |
| 2003 | 70 | #86 | 12 | #279 |
| 2002 | 51 | #97 | 15 | #238 |
| 2001 | 59 | #90 | 10 | #302 |
| 2000 | 49 | #100 | 10 | #284 |
| 1999 | 31 | #124 | 18 | #194 |
| 1998 | 37 | #110 | 9 | #270 |
| 1997 | 38 | #121 | 11 | #294 |
| 1996 | 43 | #115 | 13 | #259 |
| 1995 | 29 | #137 | 8 | #327 |
| 1994 | 30 | #131 | 4 | #450 |
| 1993 | 14 | #184 | 9 | #320 |
| 1992 | 22 | #154 | 8 | #339 |
| 1991 | 26 | #143 | 7 | #365 |
| 1990 | 29 | #139 | 6 | #380 |
| 1989 | 25 | #143 | 8 | #332 |
| 1988 | 30 | #133 | 11 | #290 |
| 1987 | 18 | #160 | 12 | #287 |
| 1986 | 21 | #149 | 4 | #458 |
| 1985 | 25 | #142 | 9 | #325 |
| 1984 | 17 | #160 | 10 | #308 |
| 1983 | 28 | #136 | 9 | #331 |
| 1982 | 22 | #150 | 13 | #286 |
| 1981 | 19 | #165 | 13 | #287 |
| 1980 | 21 | #157 | 3 | #542 |
| 1979 | 29 | #133 | 16 | #261 |
| 1978 | 19 | #161 | 22 | #224 |
| 1977 | 26 | #138 | 7 | #369 |
| 1976 | 34 | #126 | - | - |
| 1975 | 38 | #117 | - | - |
| 1974 | 29 | #128 | 14 | #264 |
| 1973 | 38 | #120 | 19 | #232 |
| 1972 | 37 | #118 | 21 | #212 |
| 1971 | 32 | #120 | 21 | #209 |
| 1970 | 32 | #114 | 22 | #196 |
| 1969 | 23 | #130 | 28 | #175 |
| 1968 | 33 | #103 | - | - |
| 1967 | 26 | #110 | - | - |
| 1966 | 5 | #219 | 8 | #256 |
| 1965 | 16 | #129 | - | - |
| 1964 | 10 | #155 | - | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Dara mean?
Usually linked with the oak
Irish, usually traced to Dáire, a name probably linked with dair (oak).
Say it right
DARa
Not:DAIR-a
The story of Dara
Dara is an English form of an Irish name, but which one is not fully settled. It is usually traced to Dáire, an old name probably linked with dair, the oak, or doire, an oak wood. Many people also connect it with Mac Dara, the Connemara saint, whose name is often read as “son of the oak”. Outside Ireland, Dara is also a Persian name related to Darius and a Slavic name meaning “gift”.
Saint Macdara is the patron of fishermen in west Connacht. His stone church still stands on Saint Macdara’s Island off Carna, and local boats traditionally dipped their sails three times as they passed. Well-known Irish bearers include the comedian Dara Ó Briain and the writer Dara Ó Conaola.
Dara was already in use when the CSO records begin, mostly for boys. Its best years came around 2010, when it reached number 72 in 2010 and was given to 111 boys in 2011. Girls have used it throughout too, with a best rank of number 175 in 1969.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Dara (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Dara
- Wikipedia: Saint Macdara's Island
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Dara | 52 | 2,963 |
In Northern Ireland
#107 in 2025 with 22 babies. Best rank #74 (2007); 774 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Dara is also given to girls: 599 since 1966, 11 in 2025.