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Ezra

/EZ-rə/

Ezra is a boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning Help.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginHebrew
  • StyleModern
  • Syllables2
  • US rank#40

What does Ezra mean?

Help

From the Hebrew Ezra, "help", probably a shortened form of Azaryahu, "Yahweh helps".

The story behind the name

Ezra was the scribe and priest who led a group of exiles back from Babylon to Jerusalem in the fifth century BC and is credited in Jewish tradition with re-establishing the Torah at the centre of religious life.

English use dates from the Reformation, and the name was carried to New England by Puritan settlers. It stayed a quiet American name for three centuries.

Its recent rise is part of the same wave that lifted Noah, Asher and Levi: short Old Testament names with soft consonants. Ezra entered the American top twenty in the 2020s.

Notable people named Ezra

  • Ezra, scribe and priest of the Hebrew Bible
  • Ezra Pound, poet
  • Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University

How popular is Ezra?

Popularity in the United States

Ezra has been given to 68,697 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 231 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

03,5647,128188019502020
Babies named Ezra per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Ezra has been given to 2,222 babies in France since 1989, peaking in the 2020s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

0215429198920052022
Babies named Ezra per year in France, 1989–2022. Source: INSEE
68,697 Babies named since 1880
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Esdras, Ezrah

Related names: Ezekiel, Elijah, Asher, Levi, Eli

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Frequently asked questions about Ezra

What does the name Ezra mean?

Ezra means Help. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Ezra a boy's or a girl's name?

Ezra is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Ezra?

Ezra is pronounced EZ-rə.

How popular is the name Ezra?

Ezra has been given to 68,697 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Ezra?

Common variants include Esdras, Ezrah.