How to say it
a · MA · ra
/əˈmɑ.rə/
Feminine
Amara
Grace, or 'eternal'
What it means
Multi-origin. In Igbo (West African), amara means 'grace.' In Italian and other Romance languages, amara is the feminine of amaro ('bitter'). Some readings also trace it to Sanskrit amara ('immortal').
Amara is a name with parallel roots in several languages. In Igbo (West African Nigerian), amara means 'grace, mercy.' In Italian, amara is the feminine of amaro ('bitter'); the Latin root is the same as English 'amaranth.' In Sanskrit, amara means 'immortal' or 'eternal' (the Amarakosha is a 4th-century thesaurus by Amara Sinha). The English-language adoption surged in the 2010s, drawing on all three traditions; in US records it leans feminine across diverse communities. It entered the US top 300 in 2015. No common short.
Popularity over time
peaked at #98 in 2025, currently #98 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
ah-MAH-ra, three syllables. The Italian root (amara, 'bitter') is pronounced the same; the Igbo root is closer to ah-MA-ra.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Amara Karan British actress, The Darjeeling Limited
- Amara La Negra Dominican-American singer and Love & Hip Hop personality
Spelling variants
- Amarah