NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Adara

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Spanish or Hebrew.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Adara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Adara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 12 births.

This profile covers 144 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 143 living people in the UK are called Adara. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Adara ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 12 girls were registered as Adara.
  • About 143 living people in the UK are estimated to have Adara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3015

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2017

12 births

Estimated living

143

2026

Meaning

What does Adara mean?

The name Adara is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "adara," which means "honor" or "respect." The name was likely first used in ancient India, where Sanskrit was the primary language of Hindu scriptures and philosophical texts.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Adara can be found in the Mahabharata, a Sanskrit epic poem that is considered one of the most important works of ancient Indian literature. In the Mahabharata, Adara is mentioned as the name of a minor character who is described as a faithful and honorable servant.

Throughout history, the name Adara has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person was Adara Devi, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1901 to 1957. She was instrumental in reviving and popularizing the traditional Odissi dance form and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian dance.

Another famous bearer of the name was Adara Michaels, an American actress and model who was born in 1978. She is best known for her roles in television shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."

In the realm of literature, Adara was the name of a character in the 1984 novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and existentialism, and Adara is portrayed as a free-spirited and passionate woman.

Moving to the field of sports, Adara Amaral was a Brazilian volleyball player who represented her country in several international competitions, including the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She played as a middle blocker and was known for her powerful spikes and defensive skills.

Lastly, in the world of music, Adara St. Aubyn was a British singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1960s. Her folk-inspired style and poetic lyrics earned her a dedicated following, and she released several well-received albums during her career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Adara over time

The chart below shows babies named Adara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Adara, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Adara
036912199720102024

Decades

Adara by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Adara was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2836 44 5
2010s #4041 48 8
2000s #3136 43 8
1990s #3116 9 2

Related

Names similar to Adara

FAQ

Adara: questions and answers

How popular is the name Adara in the UK right now?

In 2024, Adara was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Adara most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 12 babies registered as Adara in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Adara?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Spanish or Hebrew.

How many people are called Adara in the UK?

A total of 144 babies have been registered as Adara across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.