The baby name Ira offers so much history in a brief, complete sound.
Thanks to Katharine for suggesting today’s Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME IRA MEAN?
Ira means watchful in Hebrew.
In the Old Testament, Ira serves as priest to King David.
As with nearly any short name, the baby name Ira has other possible origins, including:
- A nickname for Irina, a Slavic form of Irene
- A goddess name, sometimes considered the equivalent of the Greek Hera, though also a separate figure from Polynesian mythology
But Ira is also IRA – as in an Individual Retirement Account. Or the Irish Republican Army. But those are normally spelled out – I.R.A., while Ira is typically a boy’s name in the US.
FAMOUS MEN NAMED IRA
The baby name Ira came into common use during the Protestant Reformation, when parents traded saints’ names for Biblical finds.
Notable Iras include:
- Ira Glass, the long-time host of NPR’s This American Life.
- Along with brother George, Ira Gershwin contributed to some of the most memorable Broadway tunes – I Got Rhythm and Someone to Watch Over Me are among his hits.
- Ira Allen, brother to Ethan, was a founder of Vermont and the driving force behind the establishment of the University of Vermont. He donated the original 50 acres that are part of the campus at Burlington today.
- Writer Ira Levin penned such memorable suspense novels as The Stepford Wives and Rosemary’s Baby.
Fictional characters answer to Ira. Paul’s cousin from hit 1990s sitcom Mad About You was Ira Buchman. On Young Sheldon, Meemaw dated an Ira. Seth Rogan played an aspiring stand-up comic called Ira in 2009’s Funny People. And way back in 1992, Ira Lowenstein was in charge of the women’s baseball league in A League of Their Own.
That’s a pretty representative list of men named Ira. It’s in steady use across the centuries, but rarely in the spotlight.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME IRA?
During the late 19th century in the US, the baby name Ira was as common as Oliver, Theodore or Alexander – a top 100 choice.
The name slipped in popularity during the 20th century. Ira left the US Top 1000 entirely after 1992.
But it returned in 2016.
On paper, the baby name Ira fits with choices like Ezra, Isaac, and Leo. Brief and complete, with deep roots.
And yet, it’s never quite caught on. As of 2024, the baby name Ira ranks #975.
The name remains reasonably common for girls, too. In 2024, 154 girls were named Ira. That makes it about as popular as Lorraine or Alisa – at least at this very moment.
UNDERUSED POSSIBILITY
The baby name Ira checks a lot of boxes: it’s short with a strong sound. The meaning appeals. And it balances history with an on-trend style.
Despite all of those positive qualities, Ira remains seldom heard. That, of course, might make this the perfect name.
What do you think of the baby name Ira?
First published on July 17, 2008, this post was revised on December 28, 2025.
My name is Ira, as is my dads, his dad and, my dads dads dad. In short, im the fourth
I’ve got a pretty big crush on Ira Glass and have totally fallen in love with the name. Seth Rogen plays Ira Wright in the 2009 movie Funny People. Ira is definitely in my top 5. 🙂
I like Ira, but it also reminds me of the Johnny Cash song, “The Ballad of Ira Hayes.” lol Yes, I am a hick.
I think I have to agree with Another on this one. It sounds a bit old and dated to me, certainly not fresh at all. I also have to add that for some reason or another, I feel Ira sounds a bit feminine.
Don’t get me wrong though, I do like Ezra, Noah, Elijah and other ending in -a boys’ names bit I happen to know a little girl named Ira. She was in my younger daughter’s grade 1 class.
Yeah, I think this name does need to hibernate for a bit longer before it gets revived.
The only Ira I’ve ever met is Israeli – and about my age, 30-something. But I take your point, Another. Names do need to hibernate for them sound fresh again. So if you knew a lot of aged Iras in your youth, there’s no way he’d sound like a good option now.
Then again, I once felt that way about Charlie, and now it seems like every small boy I know is called Charlie.
Personally, I’d probably use Ezra before Ira, but only because I have an affection for the letter “Z.” I love boys’ names that end in vowels.
BTW, my brother probably would’ve been Ethan had my mother had her way – but my father campaigned hard for a “junior” instead and after three daughters, well, my mother caved. It’s another great name, common or not, that suits a small child as well as a grown man.
‘Undiscovered gem of a name’ hits the nail on the head! There is something so bold and untouchable about Ira.
Ira Gershwin was my first thought! Wasn’t there an Ira on some 80’s show? (Mad About You, I think) And I didn’t know Ethan Allen had a brother… it’s not something we really studied in school, apparently. I knew one as a kid, too. of course he was an old man then. My folks made my brother & I go around the neighborhood raking leaves, shoveling snow or weeding for the older couples in the neighborhood, Ira and Izzy [Isidore] were the guys, Helen & Henrietta were their wives (Ira & Helen, Izzy & Henrietta). Great people, really sweet to us kids, so I have nothing but good memories tied to these 4 names (in particular).
Back to Ira. Simple to spell (great for a three year old learning to spell, hmm?), strong and handsome. The IRA connections (both money & militant) don’t really bother me much at all (but then, my front runner is Cosmo, so who am I to judge?). So I say Ira’s an undiscovered gem of a name. I think he’d make a great brother to Ezra, even!
Well, being a Jewish girl from Brooklyn, this name says only one thing to me, and that’s OLD JEWISH MAN. While I have known and liked many an Ira, they were all elderly gentlemen. I don’t know if this name fits in with my idea of “fresh, new”. Allen’s brother Ethan, however, is a favorite of mine. Not only do I love the furniture, but I named my son Ethan. At the time I had no idea how popular it was, but it just appealed to me. For me, Ira is on the Jedediah, Josiah, Ezra list: too Jewish. I know a lot of people will argue that everyone uses Biblical names, but in the end I’m a product of my environment.