Origin, Meaning, And History Of Ezra
Ezra is a unique Hebrew name that has been traditionally used for boys. It signifies ‘helper’ or ‘help.’ More importantly, this word is an abbreviation of the phrase Azaryahu in Hebrew, which means ‘Yah helps.’ A related meaning of the name is ‘salvation.’ It is believed that the original, longer name may have been Azaryahu. This term implies ‘God helps’ or ‘God protects.’
This name carries immense biblical significance. This is because Ezra was a prophet in the Old Testament in the 5th century. He played a critical role in the building of Jerusalem again after the Babylonian exile. In the Bible, we find Ezra leading as many as fifteen hundred Israelites out of slavery in Babylon. He brought them back to Jerusalem. So, the name Ezra picked came into popular usage at that time and has been used for thousands of years for boys.
The Book of Ezra is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. The book lays out the historic beginnings of Judaism, distinct from the ancient Israelite religion that came before it. Ezra the Scribe is the book’s author. Thus, the name Ezra started becoming popular among Jews and Christians after the Bible was published.
Ezra has references in several other languages as well. It is spelled Uzair in Arabic and Esdras in Latin and Greek cultures. The name is read Lezra in some North African cultures. In Slavic languages, it is Ezrin or Ezdrin. Some major derivatives of the name are Azra, Ezera, and Ezrah.
In America, celebrities have sparked the name’s usage by taking it on and choosing it for their sons. For example, both Paul Reiser and Taylor Hanson have named their sons Ezra. Characters by this name also appear in Wilkie Collins’sThe MoonstoneandDaniel Deronda乔治·艾略特。以斯拉梅森出现在Illuminae Trilogy, the adult fantasy novel by Jay Kristoff. Another notable reference is Ezra Ezekiel Baxter in the 1946 film,The Yearling.
How To Pronounce Ezra?
Famous People With The Name Ezra
- Ezra Matthew MillerAmerican actor, best known for his role in We Need to Talk About Kevin
- Ezra Jack KeatsAmerican writer, known for winning the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating The Snowy Day
- Ezra Manning MeekerAmerican pioneer, known as the first mayor of Puyallup, Washington
- Ezra CornellAmerican businessman and politician, known for serving as President of the New York Agriculture Society and as a New York State Senator.
- Ezra KoenigAmerican musician, famous for creating the Netflix animated comedy series Neo Yokio
Ezra On The Popularity Chart
Ezra was not a very popular name up till the early 2000s. Check out these graphs to assess its rise and fall in usage.
Popularity Over Time
The popularity of the name has been massive in recent years. A peak point came in 2021 with 7365 babies per million getting it.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name’s rank shows an increasing trend from 1986 onwards. From 2007, it started improving consistently.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Ezra
Ezra has a distinctive phonetic quality. Here are similar options to explore.
Popular Sibling Names For Ezra
Other Popular Names Beginning With E
Names With Same Meaning As Ezra
Do you have siblings? In that case, you may want them to give names that mean alike.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Ezra
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Ezra?
The name Ezra means one who loves to help others.
2. What is the origin of the name Ezra?
Ezra has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Ezra?
Ezra is pronounced as ez-ruh.
