Myra
Myra is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Poetic invention; possibly an anagram of Mary or derived from Latin myrrha meaning 'myrrh'.
Origin and history
Myra is a feminine name created in the 17th century by the English poet Fulke Greville for his sonnet cycle Caelica. It is traditionally thought to be an anagram of the name Mary or derived from the Latin word for myrrh. The name has maintained a steady presence in the United States over the centuries, remaining a classic and gently elegant choice.
Popularity in the United States
63,916 babies in the United States have been named Myra since 1880. It ranks #509 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #578.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8 %)
- TX (8 %)
- CA (7.7 %)
- NC (5.8 %)
- AL (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 953 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,305 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,361 |
| 1910-1920 | 3,398 |
| 1920-1930 | 4,986 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,858 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,868 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,378 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,359 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,781 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,177 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,473 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,454 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,594 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,971 |
Famous people named Myra
- Myra Hess: Pianist, Musician
- Myra Hindley: Criminal
Nicknames
My
Fun facts
- Myra was coined in the late 16th century by poet Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, for his love poems.
- The name has consistently ranked among the top 1,000 girl names in the United States since record-keeping began in 1880.