Cara Girl

Popularity: #772 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAR-uh //ˈkɛərə//

Origin: Irish; Latin

Meaning: Irish: 'friend'; Latin: 'beloved'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cara has its roots in the Latin word "cara," which translates to "dear" or "beloved." This Latin term is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ker-, meaning "to love" or "to care for." The name entered the English language through the influence of Latin during the Roman occupation of Britain and later through the Renaissance, when classical texts were rediscovered and Latin became a prominent scholarly language. As a result, Cara has been adopted in various forms across different cultures, often retaining its affectionate connotation.

Historically, the name Cara has been associated with several notable figures and cultural references. In the early Christian tradition, the name was sometimes linked to saints and martyrs, although specific historical records are sparse.

The name appears in various forms in literature and art throughout the centuries, reflecting its enduring appeal. For instance, it has been used in poetry and prose to evoke themes of love and tenderness, resonating with the original Latin meaning.

The name also appears in various translations of religious texts, contributing to its presence in Christian communities. Culturally, Cara has been embraced in different regions, often symbolizing affection and warmth.

In Irish, Cara means "friend," which further emphasizes the name's associations with love and companionship. This dual significance in both Latin and Irish contexts has helped the name maintain its relevance across cultures.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Carrie" have emerged, showcasing the name's adaptability and continued resonance in various linguistic traditions. Overall, Cara embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, reflecting themes of love and friendship throughout its history.

Famous people named Cara

In this section, you will find notable people named Cara. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cara who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cara who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Cara Delevingne is a model and actress best known for Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, and Carnival Row.

Cara Buono is an actress best known for Stranger Things, The Sopranos, and Let Me In.

Cara Mia Way is a singer and songwriter best known for her work in the music industry.

Fictional characters named Cara

The following list of fictional characters named Cara is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Cara is a fictional character from the book series The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind. She is a Confessor with the ability to compel others to tell the truth and is a key ally to the protagonist, Richard Cypher.

Cara Dune is a fictional character from the TV series The Mandalorian. She is a former Shock Trooper who becomes a fierce ally to the titular character, Din Djarin.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cara, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cara. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Cara was first seen in the United States in 1882.

Cara has ranked as high as #352 nationally, which occurred in 1985, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Cara has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cara is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cara was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Cara (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 20
17%
NY 13
11%
TX 11
9%
PA 10
8%
OH 9
7%
MA 9
7%
FL 8
7%
GA 7
6%
NJ 7
6%
IL 6
5%
NC 6
5%
CO 5
4%
NV 5
4%
CT 5
4%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cara.

YearBirths
2024178
2023182
2022208
2021248
2020288
2019252
2018310
2017318
2016352
2015389
2014421
2013451
2012404
2011473
2010460
2009663
2008681
2007579
2006531
2005522
2004570
2003568
2002584
2001604
2000732
1999728
1998807
1997819
1996862
1995900
19941,026
19931,105
19921,125
19911,259
19901,212
19891,275
19881,268
19871,232
19861,338
19851,465
19841,440
19831,394
19821,328
19811,261
19801,276
19791,247
19781,346
19771,411
19761,103
19751,192
19741,074
1973847
1972722
1971755
1970716
1969636
1968508
1967604
1966677
1965987
1964663
1963682
1962448
1961340
1960234
1959200
1958134
1957165
1956172
1955154
1954124
1953101
195287
195184
195070
194972
194851
194753
194647
194546
194441
194354
194248
194144
194036
193926
193838
193745
193639
193527
193437
193322
193228
193115
193028
192930
192820
192725
192643
192527
192430
192333
192234
192121
192018
191919
191833
191723
191627
191530
191419
191321
191216
191112
191019
190912
190812
190716
190611
19057
190411
19039
190211
19017
190017
189911
189816
189711
18968
189512
18948
18927
189111
18907
18897
18889
188710
18866
188512
18848
18836
18825