Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Era isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Era through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,009
- 54 boys · 5,955 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 157 babies
- 2025
- 64
- #2,704 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +43%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 64 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,704 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 39.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 157 in 1916. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,680 as a first name in 2020; 299 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Era’s family of names
In Greek usage, Era is a transliteration of Έρα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: across languages.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Era
- Era IstrefiKosovo-Albanian singerborn 1994
- Era Ziganshinaactressborn 1944
- Era Bell ThompsonAmerican journalist (1905–1986)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Era, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Eda
Eda is a variant of Edith. One English interpretation is “the spoils of war; one who is joyous; a treasure.”
>99% girls
Ora
“one who prays to God”
5% boys · 95% girls
Elva
“a friend of the elves”
>99% girls
Elda
“a battlemaiden; a protector”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls
Erma
“one who is complete; universal”
>99% girls
Elna
Elna is a feminine given name from Elin. It is used in Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Faroese.
>99% girls
Erna
“one who is determined; serious” · “one who is sincere and determined; serious”
>99% girls