Given name & surname · also Gaelic, Sanskrit
Tara
“hill”
Tara is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “hill.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “hill.”
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Sanskrit, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
It comes from the Sanskrit word tara, meaning “star, asterism.”
The story
In mythological stories, Tara is associated with an astral goddess.
Tara through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 176,355
- 543 boys · 175,812 girls
- Most popular year
- 1972
- 7,268 babies
- 2025
- 322
- #847 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 322 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 847 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 0.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 7,234 in 1972. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (65). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 158,365 as a first name in 2020; 512 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.
Tara’s family of names
In English usage, Tara shares an earlier linguistic root with AKHTAR. In English usage, Tara has a related form in Taryn. In English usage, Tara has a related form in TERA.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Tara has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Sanskrit roots to each of them.
8 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Tara
- Carmen ElectraAmerican actress, model, and singerborn 1972
- Tara ReidAmerican actress (born 1975)
- Tara StrongCanadian-American actress (born 1973)
- Tara LipinskiAmerican figure skater (born 1982)
- Tara SutariaIndian singer and actressborn 1995
- Tara Davis-WoodhallAmerican track and field athleteborn 1999
- Tara WestoverAmerican historian and authorborn 1986
- Tara FitzgeraldEnglish actress (born 1967)
- Tara SharmaBritish film actressborn 1977
Characters named Tara: Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tara, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ardra
“one who is noble” · “the goddess of bad luck and misfortune”
>99% girls
Tapati
>99% girls
Agrona
>99% girls
Andraste
>99% girls
Svaha
“in Hinduism, a minor goddess”
>99% girls
Banba
>99% girls
Aveta
17% boys · 83% girls
Achall
>99% girls