Boy name
Dara name meaning
“one who holds the good”
Dara means one who holds the good. It is connected with Persian Dara and ultimately Old Persian Darayavahush, whose elements express holding or possessing and goodness. Used for boys in Türkiye, the name is related to Darius and carries a historical association with the rulers of ancient Persia.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Persian
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Dara mean?
One who holds the good
In Turkish: iyiliği elinde tutan
Dara has a historical connection with ancient Iranian royal names. In Persian literature, Dārā appears especially in narratives surrounding Alexander. Its spelling also matches the Turkish word for tare weight, but that everyday noun does not explain the personal name or its historical associations.
How popular is Dara?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 1provinces
Where is Dara in the top 30?
1 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Origin of the name Dara
Dara is associated with Persian Dārā and ultimately Old Persian Dārayavauš, the source of Darius. Its components refer to holding or possessing what is good.
Double names with Dara
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Dara Nahit
Meaning of each name
- Dara: one who holds the good
- Nahit: Venus, the planet
-
Münif Dara
Meaning of each name
- Münif: lofty, elevated and distinguished
- Dara: one who holds the good
-
Dara Merih
Meaning of each name
- Dara: one who holds the good
- Merih: the planet Mars; the red planet
-
Sefa Dara
Meaning of each name
- Sefa: ease of mind; pleasure and enjoyment
- Dara: one who holds the good
-
Dara Nihat
Meaning of each name
- Dara: one who holds the good
- Nihat: disposition; nature, inherent character
-
Safi Dara
Meaning of each name
- Safi: clear, pure, unmixed
- Dara: one who holds the good
How to pronounce Dara
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /daɾa/ |
Is Dara a boy’s name?
Yes, Dara is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Dara appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Dara
- Dora♂♀Gift
- Dana♂♀Wise, knowledgeable
- Duha♂♀Forenoon
- Deha♂Exceptional intellectual or creative ability
- Duran♂Remaining, staying
- Darvan♂Woodworker
- Durak♂A wish that the child remain alive
- Dal♂A branch extending from a tree
- Damar♂Blood vessel
- Dani♂God is my judge
- Davran♂Take action, get moving
- Daan♂God is my judge
Names with related meanings
- Mert♂Brave, honourable, true to one’s word
- Hasan♂Beautiful
- Erdem♂Virtue
- Onur♂Honour, self-respect, dignity
- Salih♂Good, virtuous, righteous
- Asil♂Noble, well-rooted
- Kemal♂Maturity, excellence, completeness
- Arel♂A pure, honest person
- Emin♂Trustworthy
- İhsan♂Doing good
- Selahattin♂Righteousness of the faith
- Sedat♂Rectitude
FAQ about the name Dara
What is the meaning of Dara?
Dara means “one who holds the good”. Dara is associated with Persian Dārā and ultimately Old Persian Dārayavauš, the source of Darius. Its components refer to holding or possessing what is good.
Is Dara a boy’s name?
Yes, Dara is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Dara in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Dara nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Dara?
Dara is of Persian origin.
How many syllables does Dara have?
Dara has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Dara?
Dara appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Dara?
Some ideas: Dara Nahit; Münif Dara; Dara Merih.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm02016 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake