Tara

What does Tara mean?

Tara has separate Irish and South Asian histories. In Sanskrit, tārā means “star.” In the Irish place-name tradition, Tara is the English form of Teamhair, possibly meaning “elevated place.” The same spelling therefore brings together a celestial meaning and a name associated with a sacred hill.

The Sanskrit name appears in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. In Hindu narratives, Tara is the name of more than one important figure, including the wife of Vali in the Ramayana. In Buddhism, Tara is associated with protection and salvation. This Asian history is independent of the Irish geographical name.

The Irish hill and its literary echo

The Hill of Tara in County Meath was an important ceremonial site and became associated with Ireland's high kings. Its long historical and legendary presence helped make the place name recognizable beyond the immediate landscape.

Margaret Mitchell used Tara for the O'Hara plantation in Gone with the Wind, published in 1936. The 1939 film adaptation brought that fictional place to another large audience. The novel and film helped popularize Tara as a first name in English-speaking use.

Tara Lipinski and skating

Figure skater Tara Lipinski gives the name a prominent sporting association. She won the women's singles gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano at fifteen, finishing ahead of fellow American Michelle Kwan.

The victory followed her 1997 national and world titles. Her Olympic free skate made the first name especially visible in coverage of a competition remembered for the contrasting performances of the two American skaters. Her youth also made the achievement recognizable to children watching the Games.

Tara Westover and Educated

Writer Tara Westover provides another connection through Educated, her memoir published in 2018. The book recounts her upbringing in an isolated Idaho family and her eventual move into formal education. She first entered a classroom at seventeen and later earned a doctorate at Cambridge.

The memoir follows the widening distance between the world she grew up in and the one she encounters through study. Its title places education at the center of a personal story about family, belonging, and an expanding understanding of life beyond home.

Pronunciation and related spelling

English Tara has several established pronunciations, including TAH-ruh, TAIR-uh, and TARR-uh. All have two syllables and first-syllable stress. Tarah is a related English spelling. Teamhair is the Irish place-name form, while Sanskrit तारा writes the separate star name in Devanagari.

Tara in the United States

Tara's highest American girls' count was 7,234 in 1972. Its best rank came in 1977, at No. 35. In 2025 it ranked No. 847, up from No. 1,164 in 2020. Its strongest American newborn generation dates to the 1970s.

How popular is Tara?

In 2025, Tara ranked #847 among girls in the United States, with 322 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for girls in 1939; its largest annual count was 7,234 in 1972. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.