Ira

“Watchful” — Hebrew origin

Boy's name · #822 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Ira holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#822 in 2025). About 55,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. About 61% of babies named Ira in recent years have been boys.

Around the world: about 1 in 5,000 boys in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 15,000 boys in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 30 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Iras

Ira Levin — American novelist, playwright (1929–2007)
Ira Gershwin — American lyricist (1896–1983)
Ira S. Bowen — American physicist and astronomer (1898–1973)
Ira Remsen — American chemist (1846–1927)
Ira Sachs — American filmmaker (born 1965)

In stories & tradition

Ira the Ithrite — human biblical figure
Ira Goldstein — advertising character
Ira of Tekoa — 2 Samuel 23

What Iras become

Among 615 notable people named Ira:

Lawyers & judges appear 1.57× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ira De Ment, United States District Judge.

Similar names: Reuben · Hiram · Ben · Asa · Sam · Isiah

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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