Given name & surname
Myra
“resembling the fragrant oil”
Myra is a form of Myrrh. One Egyptian interpretation is “resembling the fragrant oil.”
Original GreekΜάιρα
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Greek use, Myra carries the interpretation “resembling the fragrant oil.” Myra is a form of Myrrh. One Egyptian interpretation is “resembling the fragrant oil.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
Myra is used as a form of Myrrh.
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
Myra through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 63,967
- 51 boys · 63,916 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 1,296 babies
- 2025
- 429
- #663 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 429 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 663 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,288 in 1958. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (39). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 42,505 as a first name in 2020; 189 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.
Myra’s family of names
Myra has a related form in Myriah. Myra has a related form in Myrah. In English usage, Myra has a conventional equivalent in the Vietnamese form Mai-ra.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Myra has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
6 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 13
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ΜάιραGreek
- Miraequivalent
- Amyraequivalent
- Tamyraequivalent
- Omyrarelated form
- Myriaequivalent
- Myrnaequivalent
- Miiraequivalent
Show 5 moreShow fewer
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Myra
- Myra HessBritish pianist (1890–1965)
- Abbie PrattAmateur golfer (1859–1938)
- Myra Adele LoganAfrican-American physician1908–1977
- Myra KeatonFilm actress (1877-1955)
- Myra BradwellAmerican publisher and political activist1831–1894
- Myra MelfordAmerican avant-garde jazz pianist and composerborn 1957
- Myra CarterAmerican actress (1929–2016)
- Myra Juliet FarrellAustralian visionary, inventor and artist (1878-1957)
- Myra TaylorAmerican jazz singer and songwriter (1917-2011)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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