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.
How to spell Amara
The standard spelling is Amara. Common variants include Amarah, but Amara is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. 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
Names with the same feeling
See Amara from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Amara mean?
- 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').
- What does Amara mean in Igbo?
- In Igbo, Amara means "Grace, or 'eternal'." 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.
- How do you pronounce Amara?
- Amara is pronounced əˈmɑ.rə. Say it as a-MA-ra, with the stress on the "ma" syllable.
- How do you spell Amara?
- The standard spelling is Amara. Common spelling variants include Amarah.
- Is Amara a boy or girl name?
- Amara is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Amara?
- Amara ranked #98 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.