Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

would you think boy or girl?

129 replies

namechangefornaming1 · 29/04/2021 13:28

Hi -simple question - if you heard the name Dara would you think it was a boy or girl? It may help if you said whether you were in the UK (I am). Thanks for your time x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 29/04/2021 14:30

Boy (UK, Wales specifically)

Weeedonkey · 29/04/2021 14:31

Boy, but just because of Dara O’Brien

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 29/04/2021 14:32

If you are wanting it for a girl - Dana seems more unisex to me.

Weeedonkey · 29/04/2021 14:32

Sorry, England*

DotDotDotDotDot · 29/04/2021 14:44

I would say Dara could be either.
There is also the Hebrew name Adara which is definitely feminine and is also lovely.

emmathedilemma · 29/04/2021 14:46

boy (uk)

LizzieAnt · 29/04/2021 14:51

Dara/Daire/Darragh/Daragh is usually a male name in Ireland. All spellings are pronounced the same, with the first syllable, Dar, rhyming with the first syllable of Harry or Gary. (I've noticed it said a bit differently in the UK sometimes.)
It's popular- I know several boys/men with this name. Dara is very occasionally used as a female name here. I once spoke with a woman called Dara on the phone...remember thinking how unusual it was. There was a female character in a Maeve Binchy book called Dara too.

Nodal · 29/04/2021 14:52

Unisex - England

riromay · 29/04/2021 14:54

Girl. Not in the UK

Sheepareawesome · 29/04/2021 14:54

Girl but could be a boy, England

HarkAVagrant · 29/04/2021 14:56

Boy, UK (England)

Amdone123 · 29/04/2021 14:56

As above.

Soubriquet · 29/04/2021 14:58

Girl

I know it’s usually a mans name but it sounds very feminine to me

StevieNix · 29/04/2021 14:59

Instinctively I would think girl, but if you told me they were a boy I equally wouldn’t be surprised and think it’s only a name for girls. I’m in England btw

MorningTeas · 29/04/2021 15:01

Girl uk

LizzieAnt · 29/04/2021 15:03

Just checked stats for 2020 in Ireland.

14 baby girls were called Dara
(0-3 baby girls with the other spellings; they don't give details just to say fewer than 3)

49 baby boys called Dara
11 boys called Daragh
27 boys called Daire
299 boys called Darragh

Anystarinthesky · 29/04/2021 15:05

I think boy, Scotland.

Dara O'Brien is the only time I have heard that name used.

Bramblebutter · 29/04/2021 15:07

Girl. English

Leytonladee · 29/04/2021 15:13

Boy. London

VenusClapTrap · 29/04/2021 15:13

Could be either (U.K.)

hedgehogger1 · 29/04/2021 16:21

Boy uk Dara O'Brien

CatRamsey · 29/04/2021 16:23

Girl. I'm in South Wales.

I wouldn't find it unusual to be in a boy though as I know it is used as a boys name, but for me it fits with all the other -ara names for girls.

Carbara · 29/04/2021 16:23

Darragh-boy
Ireland

JemimaJoy · 29/04/2021 16:40

From the sound alone I'd have assumed girl, but I know Dara O'Brien, which makes me think boy.

partyatthepalace · 29/04/2021 18:18

Boy (I have live in Ireland tho)

I think some people will mistake it in the UK, so depend if that bother you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread