Pronunciation
Ta-ra
Meaning
Inspired by the Hill of Tara
Fun fact
The Hill of Tara is one of the most iconic archaeological and mythological places in Ireland. It’s an ancient ceremonial and burial site, with a passage tomb dating back around 5,000 years. It was also the inauguration place and seat of Ireland’s High Kings. So there’s a lot of Irish history behind this name!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Tara, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #166 |
| 2024 | 26 | #171 |
| 2023 | 41 | #114 |
| 2022 | 35 | #150 |
| 2021 | 41 | #127 |
| 2020 | 34 | #145 |
| 2019 | 59 | #96 |
| 2018 | 62 | #96 |
| 2017 | 46 | #126 |
| 2016 | 52 | #116 |
| 2015 | 65 | #99 |
| 2014 | 72 | #93 |
| 2013 | 76 | #84 |
| 2012 | 71 | #90 |
| 2011 | 92 | #74 |
| 2010 | 121 | #62 |
| 2009 | 145 | #51 |
| 2008 | 144 | #51 |
| 2007 | 151 | #46 |
| 2006 | 173 | #38 |
| 2005 | 165 | #39 |
| 2004 | 175 | #36 |
| 2003 | 147 | #40 |
| 2002 | 180 | #32 |
| 2001 | 168 | #32 |
| 2000 | 153 | #35 |
| 1999 | 167 | #29 |
| 1998 | 114 | #39 |
| 1997 | 168 | #37 |
| 1996 | 158 | #41 |
| 1995 | 151 | #38 |
| 1994 | 134 | #43 |
| 1993 | 160 | #37 |
| 1992 | 151 | #40 |
| 1991 | 138 | #45 |
| 1990 | 145 | #42 |
| 1989 | 146 | #42 |
| 1988 | 164 | #41 |
| 1987 | 235 | #27 |
| 1986 | 201 | #36 |
| 1985 | 158 | #44 |
| 1984 | 145 | #58 |
| 1983 | 120 | #71 |
| 1982 | 124 | #72 |
| 1981 | 108 | #81 |
| 1980 | 116 | #78 |
| 1979 | 127 | #72 |
| 1978 | 117 | #76 |
| 1977 | 139 | #67 |
| 1976 | 140 | #62 |
| 1975 | 142 | #62 |
| 1974 | 151 | #61 |
| 1973 | 177 | #50 |
| 1972 | 157 | #52 |
| 1971 | 133 | #67 |
| 1970 | 162 | #53 |
| 1969 | 77 | #96 |
| 1968 | 30 | #161 |
| 1967 | 12 | #221 |
| 1966 | 7 | #276 |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | 4 | #327 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.