How to say it
EZ · rah
ˈɛz.rə
Masculine
Ezra
Help, helper
What it means
From the Hebrew Ezra, meaning help or helper. A short, sturdy name about being there for someone.
The biblical Ezra was the scribe-priest who led the Jewish return from Babylonian exile and re-established Torah study at the heart of Jewish life. The name stayed primarily within Jewish naming traditions for most of two millennia. American Puritans adopted it briefly in the 18th century. The current revival, starting around 2010, lifted Ezra into the US top fifty for boys. Often appears in sibling sets next to Asher, Levi, and Isaiah. The two-syllable name is itself short enough that nicknames are rare.
How to spell Ezra
The standard spelling is Ezra. Common variants include Esra, Ezrah, but Ezra is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #13 in 2024, currently #20 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
- Pop culture
Ezra Pound and Ezra Miller are the two famous Ezras, and they pull in opposite directions. Most people just know the name.
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.
- Ezra Pound Modernist American poet, The Cantos
- Ezra (Bible) Priest and scribe who led the second wave back from Babylonian exile
Spelling variants
- Esra
- Ezrah
Names with the same feeling
See Ezra from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Ezra mean?
- From the Hebrew Ezra, meaning help or helper. A short, sturdy name about being there for someone.
- What does Ezra mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Ezra means "Help, helper." The biblical Ezra was the scribe-priest who led the Jewish return from Babylonian exile and re-established Torah study at the heart of Jewish life. The name stayed primarily within Jewish naming traditions for most of two millennia. American Puritans adopted it briefly in the 18th century. The current revival, starting around 2010, lifted Ezra into the US top fifty for boys. Often appears in sibling sets next to Asher, Levi, and Isaiah. The two-syllable name is itself short enough that nicknames are rare.
- How do you pronounce Ezra?
- Ezra is pronounced ˈɛz.rə. Say it as EZ-rah, with the stress on the "ez" syllable.
- How do you spell Ezra?
- The standard spelling is Ezra. Common spelling variants include Esra, Ezrah.
- Is Ezra a boy or girl name?
- Ezra is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ezra?
- Ezra ranked #20 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.