"king; the beautiful one (from Armenian legend)"
Origin: Armenian
Language: English
Ara
Pronunciation: [ AR-uh ]
Does Ara flow with your last name?
A legendary Armenian kings name, short and powerful
Armenian
Arabic
Japanese
Korean
Minimalist
Classic
Strong
Elegant
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"brings rain; water-giver"
Origin: Arabic
Language: Arabic
"altar"
Origin: Latin
Language: Latin
Browse names with similar meanings:
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The Story of Ara
Ara is a name of great antiquity, appearing independently in several cultures. In Armenian, Ara (Արա) was the name of a legendary king — Ara the Beautiful (Ara Geghetsik) — a figure so handsome that the Assyrian queen Semiramis went to war with Armenia to possess him. In Arabic, Ara means brings rain or one who gives water. In Latin, ara means altar, linking it to sacred spaces of worship.
Ara is a beloved name in Armenia, carried through centuries as a reminder of their legendary ancient king. In modern times it has attracted international attention as a short, elegant two-syllable name that works across many language families.
In Armenian mythology, Ara the Beautiful is one of the central national legends — his death at the hands of Semiramis and her attempt to restore him to life are themes of beauty, obsession, and national identity that Armenians still reference today.
Historical Record
Ara first appeared in US Social Security records in 1954.
Over 1,010 babies have been named Ara in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ara is past its peak , currently ranked #6,422 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Ara the Beautiful is considered one of the greatest heroes of Armenian mythology, and his story has been told for over 2000 years
- The name Ara also appears in the Southern Hemisphere constellation Ara (the Altar), visible in the night sky
Ara in Other Languages
Latin
Ara
Arabic
آرا
Armenian
Արա
Japanese
荒 or アラ
Popularity Over Time
#6,422
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1975
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ara
A
Ara Parseghian
Athlete
1923
Hall of Fame American football coach, best known for leading Notre Dame to two national championships
A
Ara the Beautiful (Ara Geghetsik)
Royalty
Legendary Armenian king whose extraordinary beauty inspired the Assyrian queen Semiramis to wage war against Armenia
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Compare Ara with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #6,422
- Total SSA Count
- 14
- Cultural Origins
- Armenian Arabic Japanese Korean
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, classic style, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, strong style, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, strong style, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, classic style, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ara
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Ara is also used as a girl name, ranked #3115.
View Ara as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Armenian)
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Persian origin
"brave, courageous"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ara
What does the name Ara mean?
"king; the beautiful one (from Armenian legend)" (from Armenian). "brings rain; water-giver" (from Arabic). "altar" (from Latin). Ara is a name of great antiquity, appearing independently in several cultures. In Armenian, Ara (Արա) was the name of a legendary king — Ara the Beautiful (Ara Geghetsik) — a figure so handsome that the Assyrian queen Semiramis went to war with Armenia to possess him. In Arabic, Ara means brings rain or one who gives water. In Latin, ara means altar, linking it to sacred spaces of worship.
What is the origin of the name Ara?
Ara has Armenian, Arabic, Latin, Japanese, and Korean origins. In Armenian, it means "king; the beautiful one (from Armenian legend)". In Arabic, it means "brings rain; water-giver". In Latin, it means "altar".
Is Ara a boy or girl name?
Ara is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #6422. As a girl name, it is ranked #3115. Ara is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Ara?
Ara is pronounced AR-uh.
How popular is the name Ara?
Ara is currently ranked #6422 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Ara?
Popular middle name pairings include Ara James, Ara Luca, Ara Rafael, Ara Shen, Ara Julian, Ara Dav, and Ara Mikael.
What are good sibling names for Ara?
Names that pair well with Ara as siblings include Armen, Nairi, Vartan, Anoush, Siranush, Tigran, and Lara.
How many syllables does Ara have?
Ara has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Ara a common or rare name?
Ara is an uncommon name, ranked #6422 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Ara?
About the Name Ara
Ara is a boy name with Armenian, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean origins . The name means "king; the beautiful one (from Armenian legend)" in Armenian .
Is Ara a boy or girl name? Ara is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #6,422 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #3,115. Ara is more commonly used as a girl name.
Ara is currently ranked #6,422 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Ara has 2 syllables and is pronounced AR-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Ara include Aram, Aramis, Arath, Aras, Aran . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis