This name has been used every year for newborns in Italy since 1999.The highest peak of popularity was in 2004 when 99 Zaira were born, the lowest was in 2001 when 31 Zaira were born in Italy.In 2018 it was given to 66 babies.
In Brazil this name is pronounced "zy-ee-da" and is known to be of Arabic origin.
― Anonymous User 4/24/2014
1
The Italian pronunciation is dzah-EE-rah. In fact it is also an Italian name, rather fashionable in the second half of the 19th century, not common nowadays. [noted -ed]
Zaira is an Italian opera based on one of Voltaire's writings. It is about a Christian woman named Zaira. She falls in love with the Muslim Sultan of Jerusalem, Orosmane.
Meaning: Brilliant, luminous. Of Arabic Origin. Variant: Zajra. Characteristics: She is very demanding, and responsible. Usually sets difficult goals to achieve, since she knows that challenges show the best of her.
Zaira is a city in Italo Calvino's 'Invisible Cities', which is found in the section of 'cities and memory'. It is observed that a description of the city as it is 'today' should contain all of its history, which is written in every feature of the city, from the gratings of the windows to the lightning rods.
I found out this name is possibly a variant of Zara meaning "Princess" in Arabic and "the brightness of dawn" in Hebrew. It is pronounced zah-EE-rah, or Anglicized ZAIR-ah (rhymes w/ Sara). I personally really like this name and think find it an attractive name for a beautiful young woman.