How to say it
LY · ra
ˈlaɪ.rə
Feminine
Lyra
Lyre (the constellation)
What it means
Greek, the lyre, the small harp; also the constellation Lyra that pictures it.
Lyra is the Greek lyre, the little harp of poets, and the northern constellation named for it, home to the bright star Vega. It is both celestial and musical, a double draw, and Philip Pullman's fierce young heroine Lyra in His Dark Materials made it a literary favorite. It sits with the sky names Luna and Aurora. Said LY-rah.
How to spell Lyra
The standard spelling is Lyra. Common variants include Lira, Lyrah, Lyric, but Lyra is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #435 in 2025, currently #435 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
Lyra of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials; the constellation and its star Vega.
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.
- Lyra the heroine of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials
Spelling variants
- Lira
- Lyrah
- Lyric
Names with the same feeling
See Lyra from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Lyra mean?
- Greek, the lyre, the small harp; also the constellation Lyra that pictures it.
- What does Lyra mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Lyra means "Lyre (the constellation)." Lyra is the Greek lyre, the little harp of poets, and the northern constellation named for it, home to the bright star Vega. It is both celestial and musical, a double draw, and Philip Pullman's fierce young heroine Lyra in His Dark Materials made it a literary favorite. It sits with the sky names Luna and Aurora. Said LY-rah.
- How do you pronounce Lyra?
- Lyra is pronounced ˈlaɪ.rə. Say it as LY-ra, with the stress on the "ly" syllable.
- How do you spell Lyra?
- The standard spelling is Lyra. Common spelling variants include Lira, Lyrah, Lyric.
- Is Lyra a boy or girl name?
- Lyra is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Lyra?
- Lyra ranked #435 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.