Dara

Syllable breakdown

Name meaning and origin

Origin

Khmer (Cambodia)

Meaning

a name of Sanskrit origin widely used in Cambodia meaning star, drawing on the rich Sanskrit vocabulary that entered Khmer culture through the Hinduism and Buddhism that shaped Cambodian civilisation from the early centuries CE; the stars in Khmer cosmological tradition are associated with the movement of time, the determination of auspicious dates for ceremonies, and the navigation of the agricultural seasons that determined the prosperity of Cambodian rice-farming communities; a child named Dara is associated with brightness, guidance, and the beauty of the night sky; the name is among the most popular in Cambodia and has been borne by numerous prominent Cambodians including musicians, politicians, and cultural figures; its Sanskrit origin connects Cambodia to the broader cultural sphere of mainland Southeast Asia in which Indian civilisational influence left a lasting imprint on language, religion, art, and naming practice

Gender

unisex