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Nara

Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Nara: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2018.

Nara is a name with multiple cultural roots, most commonly traced to Japanese origins where it means "oak tree" and is also the name of a historic city that was Japan's first permanent capital. For English speakers, it also appears as a variant of the Irish name Nuala or a short form of Honora, meaning "honour." In Norse mythology, Nara is a figure from the Poetic Edda, adding a layer of ancient depth. While there are few widely famous bearers, the name gained a modern touch through Brazilian model Nara Gil and the Nara Valley in Italy, which shares the same etymological root of "black" from the pre-Roman word *nara*. The name's simplicity and cross-cultural appeal make it feel both fresh and timeless, though it remains relatively rare in Scotland.