Name
Yara
Meaning
Yara is a feminine name of Tupi origin meaning “lady of the water”.
In Brazilian folklore Iara is a water spirit, the lady of the lake who sings from the rivers of the Amazon, and her name comes from Tupi words for lady and water. Yara also exists independently as an Arabic name, which has helped it travel widely; actress Yara Shahidi raised its profile in the United States.
A top-100 girls' name in Brazil and the Netherlands; climbing in the US since the 2010s.
Popularity in the United States
Girls
Ranked #507 in 2025 · peak #507 in 2025
Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.
At a glance
- Origin
- Tupi
- Gender
- Feminine
- Pronounced
- /YAH-rah/
- Themes
- Water
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Questions
Yara is a feminine name of Tupi origin meaning “lady of the water”. In Brazilian folklore Iara is a water spirit, the lady of the lake who sings from the rivers of the Amazon, and her name comes from Tupi words for lady and water.
Yara is traditionally a feminine (girl) name. It is a top-100 girls' name in Brazil and the Netherlands; climbing in the US since the 2010s.
The name Yara comes from Tupi. In Brazilian folklore Iara is a water spirit, the lady of the lake who sings from the rivers of the Amazon, and her name comes from Tupi words for lady and water. Yara also exists independently as an Arabic name, which has helped it travel widely; actress Yara Shahidi raised its profile in the United States.
Yara is pronounced YAH-rah.
More names that mean water
Names that share this meaning.