What Does the Name Amara Mean? (2024)

If you’re looking for a name that is rising in popularity, and comes from a variety of cultural sources, Amara is a name you should consider. The name Amara is found in multiple languages and has different meanings in African, Indian, and European cultures.

In Italian, the word "amara" means “bitter.” In the Igbo language, which is spoken in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, the name means “grace.” And in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, Amara means “deathless” or “immortal.”

Origin: The Italian word is derived from the Latin “amara” (“bitter”). The Igbo “amara” can be an adjective meaning “gracious” or a noun meaning “grace.” And The Sanskrit “amā́ra” comes from the prefix a- (“no/not”) and the root mā́ra (“death”).
Gender: Amara can be used for both boys and girls. It is more commonly used for girls in the U.S., but in Igbo culture, it is not uncommon for boys.
Pronunciation: ah-MAH-rah

Although baby names are often separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. It’s important to select the name that you feel best suits your new baby.

How Popular Is the Name Amara?

Though the name Amara has long been used in Asia and Africa, it has only been popular in the United States for about 20 years. It first appeared among the top 1,000 girl names in the U.S. in 2000, when it was ranked at No. 797. Since then, it has climbed significantly, breaking into the top 500 in 2015. The 2020 statistics ranked Amara at No. 142 for girls in America, suggesting it is still on the rise.

In the U.S., the name Amara is typically used as a girl name. Nevertheless, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex does not have to be a part of your name selection process.

Similar Names

More girl names starting with A:

Aaliyah
Addison
Alessandra
Alma
Amber
Amelia
Aretha
Aria
Arianna
Arissa
Aubrey
Aurora
Ava

More boy names starting with A:

Aaron
Abraham
Adam
Adrian
Aiden
Alexander
Andrew
Anthony
Archer
Arlo
Arthur
Asher
Austin

More names with Igbo roots:

Suggested Sibling Names

Ada
Anika
Cleopatra
Freya
Kenya
Ishani
Makena
Nia
Ola
Riya
Saira
Tara
Zendaya

Famous People Named Amara

The name Amara has only been commonly used in the United States in the past 20 years. In other cultures, however, it has been used for centuries.

Men:

Amara-siṃha, ancient Indian grammarian and poet
Amara Bangoura, Guinean diplomat and the current Ambassador of Guinea to Russia
Amara Karba Bangoura, Guinean footballer (soccer)
Amara Darboh, an American football player who has played for the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers
Amara Essy, Ivorian diplomat who served as Chairman of the Commission of the African Union
Amara Konaté, Ivorian footballer
Amara M. Konneh, Liberian economist and development expert who serves as Senior Advisor on Partnerships and Regional Integration for the World Bank
Amara Traoré, Senegalese former professional footballer

Women:

Tuwuh Adijatitesih Amaranggana, known professionally as Amara, Indonesian actress, model, and singer
Amara Asavananda, Thai actress and model known for her role in the 1967 film “Kon Nuer Kon”
Amara Karan, a British actress known for her role in the film “The Darjeeling Limited”
Amara La Negra, Afro-Latina singer and actress known for appearing on the reality TV program “Love & Hip Hop”
Amara Miller, an American actress known for her role in the film “The Descendants”
Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, Sri Lankan politician who served as governor of the North-Western Province
Amara Sohn-Walker, American journalist and news anchor who was a host of CNN International's “CNN Today”
Amara Tabor-Smith, American choreographer and performer known for her work celebrating African American and women’s history

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names
50 Indian Baby Names and Meanings
50 Popular African Baby Names

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