Myra Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Myra is a name of Greek origin meaning 'fragrant resin', linked to the ancient use of myrrh. It has evolved through forms like Mira and Myra in English. The name is often associated with elegance and has gained popularity since the 19th century. It does not have a biblical background.
The name Myra is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Myra has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Myra' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7545th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6076th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5438th out of 7552 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 13420th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 298th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 260th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 267th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 478th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 688th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 970th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 594th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Myra' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Myra"
Pronunciation
/ˈmaɪrə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Myra is derived from the Greek word 'myron', which means 'myrrh', a fragrant resin used in ancient times for perfumes and incense.
Meaning
Fragrant resin
Language Evolution
Myra (Greek), Mira (Latin), Myra (English)
Historical Usage
The name Myra gained popularity in the 19th century, especially in English-speaking countries, partly due to its use in literature and some early Christian contexts.
Variants & Derivatives
Mira, Myrra
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Myra is perceived as a classic yet slightly vintage name, often associated with elegance and femininity.
Famous People
Myra Hindley, an English criminal, Myra Breckinridge, a fictional character in a novel by Gore Vidal
Explore More Myra Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Myra"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Myra"
"Myra" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6076th of 6773 | 10 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5438th of 7552 | 24 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 13420th of 16616 | 12 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 298th of 9107 | 8,570 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 260th of 9204 | 11,677 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 267th of 12526 | 19,161 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 478th of 19264 | 6,784 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 688th of 27321 | 4,620 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 970th of 35406 | 4,031 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 594th of 30306 | 6,218 |
Regional Popularity of "Myra" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Myra" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
19.35% 274th/1416 |
19.22% 265th/1379 |
12.47% 295th/2366 |
32.49% 371st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
16.04% 248th/1546 |
14.97% 233rd/1556 |
10.16% 239th/2353 |
21.72% 336th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
13.56% 302nd/2227 |
13.95% 339th/2430 |
6.94% 198th/2853 |
13.95% 387th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
18.73% 550th/2937 |
15.76% 549th/3483 |
10.43% 367th/3518 |
13.97% 565th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
22.33% 823rd/3685 |
25.16% 1126th/4475 |
11.84% 615th/5194 |
9.45% 597th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
19.07% 874th/4582 |
21.96% 1134th/5164 |
13.03% 953rd/7313 |
14.03% 1047th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
12.27% 489th/3984 |
10.54% 473rd/4487 |
10.36% 707th/6822 |
9.67% 607th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Myra"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Myra" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.