UK girl's name
Larah
Feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Spanish word "lara" meaning "cheerful" or "joy".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Larah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Larah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 7 births.
This profile covers 31 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 31 living people in the UK are called Larah. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Larah ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 7 girls were registered as Larah.
- • About 31 living people in the UK are estimated to have Larah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
7 births
Estimated living
31
2026
Meaning
What does Larah mean?
The name Larah is believed to have its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that has been the primary source for many names used across South Asia. In Sanskrit, the word "Lara" means "wave" or "sea." The addition of the letter "h" at the end of the name is thought to be a later adaptation.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the ancient Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata. This epic poem, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE, mentions a character named Larah who was a skilled warrior and archer. However, not much is known about the specific details of this figure.
During the medieval period, the name Larah appeared to gain popularity in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure from this era was Larah Devi, a 12th-century queen who ruled over a small kingdom in what is now the state of Rajasthan. She was renowned for her patronage of the arts and her support for poets and scholars.
In the 16th century, there was a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Larah Shah who lived in present-day Pakistan. His writings and teachings had a significant influence on the spiritual and literary traditions of the region.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Larah Sundar was a prominent social reformer and educator from Bengal, British India. She dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights and establishing schools for girls in a time when female education was not widely accepted.
Another notable figure with the name Larah was Larah Ari Khan, a 20th-century politician and diplomat from Afghanistan. She played a crucial role in promoting women's rights and advocating for democracy in her country during a turbulent period of its history.
Throughout its long history, the name Larah has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including warriors, queens, poets, reformers, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to Sanskrit roots, the name has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the diverse tapestry of human history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Larah over time
The chart below shows babies named Larah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Larah, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Larah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Larah 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 | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5448 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3634 | 10 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3510 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Larah
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Larah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Larah in the UK right now?
In 2022, Larah was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Larah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 7 babies registered as Larah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Larah?
Feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Spanish word "lara" meaning "cheerful" or "joy".
How many people are called Larah in the UK?
A total of 31 babies have been registered as Larah across the 8 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.