Tyra is a unique and captivating female given name of African origin, meaning "strong" or "land". Its history dates back to ancient times when it was used by various African tribes as an expression of power and resilience.
In some West African cultures, Tyra was bestowed upon daughters born during challenging times, symbolizing their parents' hope that they would grow up to be strong and courageous women capable of overcoming any obstacles. In other African societies, the name Tyra has been associated with royalty and nobility, reflecting its meaning as a title of honor and prestige.
Despite its African roots, Tyra gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to the influence of slavery and the migration of former slaves from the South. However, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that Tyra began to appear more frequently as a given name among American babies.
Today, Tyra continues to be an uncommon yet intriguing choice for parents seeking distinctive names with powerful meanings. While its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, those who bear this remarkable name carry with them a rich heritage of strength and nobility that transcends borders and cultures.
The name Tyra has a fascinating history of popularity and usage in the United States over the past century. According to the Social Security Administration's data on popular baby names, the name Tyra first appeared as a given name for girls in 1914 with just five births that year.
Throughout the early to mid-20th century, the name Tyra maintained relatively low popularity, with fewer than ten births per year from 1915 until the 1940s. However, starting in 1947, there was a noticeable uptick in the number of girls named Tyra, with 22 births that year and 28 births in 1949.
The 1950s saw continued growth in the popularity of the name Tyra, with over 30 births per year recorded from 1953 onwards. The decade peaked in 1956 with 52 births, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the name Tyra continued to gain traction, reaching triple-digit popularity for the first time in 1968 with 148 births. The following decade saw even greater heights of popularity, with over 250 births per year from 1969 onwards and a peak of 308 births in 1970.
However, after reaching this peak, the name Tyra began to decline in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1982, there were only 141 births recorded for the name, a significant drop from its recent highs.
Despite this decline, the name Tyra maintained steady popularity throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, with around 150 to 200 births per year. However, starting in the late 1990s, there was another noticeable uptick in the number of girls named Tyra, reaching a modern peak of 837 births in 1997.
Since then, the popularity of the name Tyra has been fluctuating but generally declining over time. In recent years, the name has been steadily decreasing in popularity, with just 27 births recorded in 2023 according to preliminary data from the Social Security Administration.
In conclusion, while the name Tyra has experienced periods of significant popularity and growth throughout its history in the United States, it appears that its usage as a given name for girls has been declining in recent years. Nonetheless, with over 14,560 births recorded since 1914, Tyra remains an enduring name choice for parents across the country.