How to say it
TA · ra
ˈtɑːr.ə
Feminine
Tara
Hill, or star
What it means
An Irish place name meaning 'hill,' and separately a Sanskrit name meaning 'star.'
Tara has two independent origins. In Ireland it comes from Teamhair, the Hill of Tara in County Meath, the ancient seat of the High Kings, so it reads as 'hill' or 'elevated place.' In Sanskrit, Tārā means 'star' and belongs to goddesses in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition. English speakers most often connect it to the Irish place name, boosted in the twentieth century by the plantation Tara in Gone with the Wind. It re-entered the US top 1000 in 2025 at rank 847, up from 1020.
How to spell Tara
The standard spelling is Tara. Common variants include Tarah, Tera, but Tara is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #35 in 1977, currently #847 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
TAH-rah or TAIR-ah, both are common.
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.
- Tara Reid American actress
Spelling variants
- Tarah
- Tera
Names with the same feeling
See Tara from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Tara mean?
- An Irish place name meaning 'hill,' and separately a Sanskrit name meaning 'star.'
- What does Tara mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Tara means "Hill, or star." Tara has two independent origins. In Ireland it comes from Teamhair, the Hill of Tara in County Meath, the ancient seat of the High Kings, so it reads as 'hill' or 'elevated place.' In Sanskrit, Tārā means 'star' and belongs to goddesses in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition. English speakers most often connect it to the Irish place name, boosted in the twentieth century by the plantation Tara in Gone with the Wind. It re-entered the US top 1000 in 2025 at rank 847, up from 1020.
- How do you pronounce Tara?
- Tara is pronounced ˈtɑːr.ə. Say it as TA-ra, with the stress on the "ta" syllable.
- How do you spell Tara?
- The standard spelling is Tara. Common spelling variants include Tarah, Tera.
- Is Tara a boy or girl name?
- Tara is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Tara?
- Tara ranked #847 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.