Amara: meaning and UK use

What does Amara mean?

This entry covers the Igbo name Amara. The dictionary also has a separate entry for the same spelling in other languages; the Igbo meaning should not be applied to every use.

Language or name family covered

Igbo

Meaning or derivation

Grace

Our browsing group

girl; international, modern

Browsing groups describe our editorial shortlist, not rules about who may use a name. A name can cross languages and genders.

Sources for this entry — reviewed 2026-10-07:

• Behind the Name — Amara

Pronunciation and related forms

We have not verified a pronunciation for this entry. Ask a speaker of the intended language rather than relying on an English spelling alone.

No variants or nicknames have been verified for this entry. A family nickname does not need to be an established dictionary form.

How popular is Amara?

In 2025, 449 baby girls in England and Wales were registered as Amara, making it the 103rd most popular girls’ name. That is up 15 places on 2024, when it ranked 118th. Ten years earlier, in 2015, it ranked 278th, so it has climbed 175 places in a decade. 2025 is its highest ranking in the ONS series, which starts in 1996. These figures cover England and Wales, not the whole UK.

2025 rank (girls)

103rd

2025 registrations

449

Best rank in this series

103rd (2025)

Every year from 1996 to 2025

Amara: rank and number of baby girls by year (ONS)

Year	Rank	Babies
2025	103	449
2024	118	414
2023	124	402
2022	155	316
2021	173	293
2020	160	314
2019	162	310
2018	185	283
2017	212	243
2016	224	233
2015	278	177
2014	295	160
2013	329	140
2012	317	153
2011	372	126
2010	409	107
2009	394	107
2008	452	94
2007	454	89
2006	526	69
2005	538	63
2004	551	57
2003	653	44
2002	643	42
2001	816	29
2000	712	33
1999	780	29
1998	817	27
1997	721	33
1996	661	36

The sum of published counts in this 1996–2025 girls series is 4,872. This is a lower bound where years are suppressed, not the number of living people with the name. A best rank is the best position within this series; it does not establish an all-time record.

Sources: ONS release, 2025; girls' dataset; boys' dataset. Our 20 top-ten positions were checked against Table 1 in the 2025 workbooks. The history chart and spelling comparisons come from the separate ONS 1996–2025 workbook, checked 7 October 2026. Spelling variants are separate entries. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate statistics.

Try Amara with your surname

Preview the full name and initials below. This stays on this page, is not saved and is not sent to us. The preview does not check legal registration or passport rules.

Middle names (optional)

Surname

Type a surname to preview the full name, initials and character count.

• Say “Amara” followed by your surname, then add any middle names. Listen for repeated sounds or an unintended phrase.
• Write the full initials. Try the everyday form and any nickname you expect to use.
• Ask someone to read Amara without prompting, then decide whether explaining its spelling or pronunciation would bother you.
• If a cultural or family connection is important, confirm the intended language and written form before settling on a translation.

Names to compare with Amara

These suggestions share a browsing group and one or more of our style tags or source-context labels. They are taste comparisons, not etymological relatives or a popularity ranking.

• Ariamodern, international · Song or melody; literally air
• Diyainternational, modern · Lamp or light
• Freyamodern, international · Lady
• Mayainternational, modern · Meaning depends on the language
• Miamodern, international · A short form of Maria
• Orlainternational, modern · An anglicised form of Órlaith

Read the UK naming guide for the difference between inspiration lists and official statistics, or return to the full name finder.

Registering or changing the name

Once you decide on Amara, confirm the registration process for your UK nation with the register office. If you later want to change a registered name, the route depends on the circumstances and may require consent from people with parental responsibility.

Start with GOV.UK birth registration or GOV.UK guidance on changing a child’s name. Our registration guide and child name-change guide explain where to find the relevant official process.