The name Tara is of Irish origin and has a rich history behind it. It is derived from the ancient Irish word " Teamhair", which means "throne" or "hill". In Irish mythology, Tara was known as the Hill of the Kings, where the High Kings of Ireland were coronated.
The name Tara also has significance in other cultures. In Hinduism, Tara is a female deity who is believed to grant wishes and protect her devotees. She is often depicted with four arms, each holding different symbols representing her power and benevolence.
In Buddhism, Tara is known as the "Mother of Liberation" or the "Saviouress". She is revered for her compassion and wisdom, and is believed to embody the qualities of enlightenment and bodhicitta. There are many forms of Tara in Buddhism, each associated with different attributes such as power, healing, and longevity.
The name Tara has also been popularized by various forms of media. It was used as the name of the main character in the 1992 film "Tara Road" based on the novel of the same name by Maeve Binchy. Additionally, it is the name of a fictional planet in the Star Trek universe.
Today, Tara is considered a unisex name but it has been more commonly used for females. It has gained popularity as a given name due to its unique sound and association with powerful and positive figures from different cultures.
The name Tara gained significant popularity over the decades, with a total of 175,237 babies named Tara from 1939 to 2023. The name's usage peaked between 1968 and 1974, with birth counts ranging from approximately 2,000 to over 7,000 annually during this period. However, since the late 1980s, the popularity of the name Tara has steadily declined, with fewer than 500 babies named Tara each year since 1996. In recent years, the number of annual births with the name Tara has been around 200-300, reaching a low of 201 births in 2020.