Lyra
Lyra is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Lyre, a stringed musical instrument.
Origin and history
Lyra is a female name derived from the Greek word for the musical instrument, the lyre, and is also the name of a northern constellation. It gained widespread cultural recognition through Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. In the United States, its popularity has risen significantly since the 2010s.
Popularity in the United States
8,095 babies in the United States have been named Lyra since 1880. It ranks #1856 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #475.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.6 %)
- TX (7.2 %)
- NY (6.1 %)
- FL (5.3 %)
- WA (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 10 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 31 |
| 1920-1930 | 43 |
| 1930-1940 | 11 |
| 1940-1950 | 20 |
| 1950-1960 | 19 |
| 1960-1970 | 39 |
| 1970-1980 | 108 |
| 1980-1990 | 114 |
| 1990-2000 | 87 |
| 2000-2010 | 760 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,038 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,815 |
Famous people named Lyra
- Lyra McKee: Journalist, Author
Fun facts
- Lyra is a prominent constellation in the northern sky that contains Vega, one of the brightest stars.
- The name saw a dramatic rise in modern popularity due to the protagonist Lyra Belacqua from Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' series.