NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Alaira

A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "ethereal" or "bright spirit".

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.

Alaira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alaira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 7 births.

This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2023 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.

Alaira is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Alaira. 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

  • Alaira ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 7 girls were registered as Alaira.
  • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alaira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2024

7 births

Estimated living

11

2026

Meaning

What does Alaira mean?

The name Alaira is of uncertain origin, though it is often associated with various languages and cultures around the world. One theory suggests that it may be derived from the Arabic name Aliya, which means "exalted" or "sublime." This connection could trace the name's roots back to the Middle East and the Arabic-speaking regions.

Another possibility is that Alaira finds its origins in the Celtic languages, particularly Irish or Scottish Gaelic. In these cultures, the name may have been a variation of the name Alastriona, which means "defender" or "protector." This potential Celtic link could point to the name's use in parts of the British Isles and Ireland.

Some sources also speculate that Alaira may have ties to the Sanskrit language, where it could be related to words like "alara," meaning "beautiful" or "radiant." If this is the case, the name's origins may stretch back to ancient India and the rich linguistic and cultural traditions of that region.

While the precise origins of the name Alaira remain uncertain, there are a few notable individuals throughout history who have borne this name. One of the earliest recorded examples is Alaira of Aquitaine (circa 790 CE - 869 CE), a Frankish noblewoman and the wife of King Louis the Pious of the Carolingian Empire.

Another prominent figure was Alaira of Normandy (1020 CE - 1089 CE), a member of the Norman nobility and a powerful landowner in medieval France. In the realm of literature, Alaira was the name of a character in the 12th-century romantic epic "Tristan and Iseult," written by the French poet Béroul.

Moving forward in time, Alaira Della Valle (1524 - 1592) was an Italian painter and poet during the Renaissance period, known for her portraits and religious works. In the 18th century, Alaira Montalban (1718 - 1801) was a Spanish philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to educational reform in her country.

These historical examples showcase the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds from which the name Alaira may have emerged, as well as its presence across various periods and regions throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alaira over time

The chart below shows babies named Alaira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2023 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 Alaira, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alaira
02457202320232024

Decades

Alaira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alaira 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 #4014 11 2

Related

Names similar to Alaira

FAQ

Alaira: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Alaira was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Alaira most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 7 babies registered as Alaira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alaira?

A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "ethereal" or "bright spirit".

How many people are called Alaira in the UK?

A total of 11 babies have been registered as Alaira across the 2 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.