UK girl's name
Xara
Of uncertain origin, possibly from the Mongolian khara meaning "black".
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.
Xara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Xara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 11 births.
This profile covers 107 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1998 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 106 living people in the UK are called Xara. 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
- • Xara ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 11 girls were registered as Xara.
- • About 106 living people in the UK are estimated to have Xara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
11 births
Estimated living
106
2026
Meaning
What does Xara mean?
The name Xara is believed to have its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, where it was likely derived from the Akkadian word "šarru," meaning "king" or "ruler." This name was often associated with royalty and those of high social status in the region during the third and second millennia BCE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Xara can be found in cuneiform inscriptions from the ancient city of Ur, dating back to around 2500 BCE. These inscriptions mention a high-ranking official named Xara-ili, whose name translates to "Xara is my god."
In the ancient Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known literary works, there is a character named Xara-napishti, who is portrayed as a wise and immortal figure. This character is often interpreted as a representation of the Sumerian flood hero, and his name is thought to be a variant of the name Xara.
During the Neo-Babylonian period, around the 6th century BCE, the name Xara was popularized among the ruling classes. One notable figure from this time was Xara-ukin, a prince and son of the Babylonian king Nabonidus, who ruled from 556 to 539 BCE.
In ancient Greece, the name Xara was sometimes used as a variant spelling of the name Chara, which means "joy" or "delight." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with positive emotions and happiness in some cultures.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Xara. One example is Xara Aidonios, a Greek philosopher from the 5th century BCE who was a student of Socrates and is credited with writing several philosophical works.
Another prominent figure was Xara of Tralles, a female mathematician and philosopher from the 4th century CE, who made significant contributions to the field of geometry and was one of the earliest known female mathematicians in recorded history.
In the medieval period, the name Xara was sometimes used in various regions of Europe, including the Byzantine Empire and parts of the Middle East. One noteworthy individual from this time was Xara of Amida, a 6th-century Byzantine historian and scholar who wrote extensively about the history of the Byzantine Empire.
During the Renaissance, the name Xara saw a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. One example is Xara Gonzaga, an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts who lived in the 16th century and was known for her support of artists and intellectuals.
While the name Xara has remained relatively uncommon in modern times, it has been used by several notable individuals throughout history, such as Xara Alamuddin, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer and wife of actor George Clooney, and Xara Hindmarsh, an Australian fashion designer and entrepreneur.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Xara over time
The chart below shows babies named Xara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Xara, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Xara by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Xara 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 | #5891 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4520 | 33 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3084 | 55 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1975 | 16 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Xara
- Xanthe 1,238
- Xena 378
- Xenia 309
- Xin 285
- Xyla 91
- Xia 51
- Xiao 45
- Xi 40
- Xinyi 28
- Xue 27
- Xylia 24
- Xiomara 23
FAQ
Xara: questions and answers
How popular is the name Xara in the UK right now?
In 2024, Xara was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Xara most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 11 babies registered as Xara in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Xara?
Of uncertain origin, possibly from the Mongolian khara meaning "black".
How many people are called Xara in the UK?
A total of 107 babies have been registered as Xara across the 19 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.