Ira
Boy name · #819 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Ira? In official American birth records, Ira has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Ira ranks #819 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 301 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1019, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,980 boys born in 2025 was named Ira.
Babies named Ira per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Ira first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 249 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1947, when 884 boys were named Ira — good for #216 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ira against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ira in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ira is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ira will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ira is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ira is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ira is most common in MN (0.5 per 1,000), UT (0.5 per 1,000), WI (0.5 per 1,000), AZ (0.4 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ira is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ira
Statistically, parents drawn to Ira tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rex, Benny, Teddy, Roy, and Ray.
RexBennyTeddyRoyRayLeeEddieVan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ira | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 301 | #819 |
| 2024 | 233 | #969 |
| 2023 | 266 | #880 |
| 2022 | 288 | #846 |
| 2021 | 301 | #809 |
| 2020 | 289 | #802 |
| 2019 | 252 | #873 |
| 2018 | 216 | #958 |
| 2017 | 214 | #968 |
| 2016 | 218 | #952 |
| 2015 | 199 | #1019 |
| 2014 | 160 | #1170 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1155 |
| 2012 | 150 | #1195 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1476 |
| 2010 | 131 | #1309 |
| 2009 | 127 | #1353 |
| 2008 | 98 | #1603 |
| 2007 | 111 | #1445 |
| 2006 | 102 | #1492 |
| 2005 | 94 | #1514 |
| 2004 | 107 | #1359 |
| 2003 | 105 | #1319 |
| 2002 | 137 | #1087 |
| 2001 | 88 | #1415 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ira?
In official American birth records, the name Ira first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 249 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ira a popular boy name?
Ira ranked #819 among boys in 2025 with 301 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1019.
When was the name Ira most popular?
Ira peaked in 1947, when 884 American boys received the name (ranked #216 that year). Since 1947 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ira?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,980 newborn American boys was named Ira. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.