Cara Girl
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 | |
| NY | 13 | |
| TX | 11 | |
| PA | 10 | |
| OH | 9 | |
| MA | 9 | |
| FL | 8 | |
| GA | 7 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| IL | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| CO | 5 | |
| NV | 5 | |
| CT | 5 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 178 |
| 2023 | 182 |
| 2022 | 208 |
| 2021 | 248 |
| 2020 | 288 |
| 2019 | 252 |
| 2018 | 310 |
| 2017 | 318 |
| 2016 | 352 |
| 2015 | 389 |
| 2014 | 421 |
| 2013 | 451 |
| 2012 | 404 |
| 2011 | 473 |
| 2010 | 460 |
| 2009 | 663 |
| 2008 | 681 |
| 2007 | 579 |
| 2006 | 531 |
| 2005 | 522 |
| 2004 | 570 |
| 2003 | 568 |
| 2002 | 584 |
| 2001 | 604 |
| 2000 | 732 |
| 1999 | 728 |
| 1998 | 807 |
| 1997 | 819 |
| 1996 | 862 |
| 1995 | 900 |
| 1994 | 1,026 |
| 1993 | 1,105 |
| 1992 | 1,125 |
| 1991 | 1,259 |
| 1990 | 1,212 |
| 1989 | 1,275 |
| 1988 | 1,268 |
| 1987 | 1,232 |
| 1986 | 1,338 |
| 1985 | 1,465 |
| 1984 | 1,440 |
| 1983 | 1,394 |
| 1982 | 1,328 |
| 1981 | 1,261 |
| 1980 | 1,276 |
| 1979 | 1,247 |
| 1978 | 1,346 |
| 1977 | 1,411 |
| 1976 | 1,103 |
| 1975 | 1,192 |
| 1974 | 1,074 |
| 1973 | 847 |
| 1972 | 722 |
| 1971 | 755 |
| 1970 | 716 |
| 1969 | 636 |
| 1968 | 508 |
| 1967 | 604 |
| 1966 | 677 |
| 1965 | 987 |
| 1964 | 663 |
| 1963 | 682 |
| 1962 | 448 |
| 1961 | 340 |
| 1960 | 234 |
| 1959 | 200 |
| 1958 | 134 |
| 1957 | 165 |
| 1956 | 172 |
| 1955 | 154 |
| 1954 | 124 |
| 1953 | 101 |
| 1952 | 87 |
| 1951 | 84 |
| 1950 | 70 |
| 1949 | 72 |
| 1948 | 51 |
| 1947 | 53 |
| 1946 | 47 |
| 1945 | 46 |
| 1944 | 41 |
| 1943 | 54 |
| 1942 | 48 |
| 1941 | 44 |
| 1940 | 36 |
| 1939 | 26 |
| 1938 | 38 |
| 1937 | 45 |
| 1936 | 39 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 37 |
| 1933 | 22 |
| 1932 | 28 |
| 1931 | 15 |
| 1930 | 28 |
| 1929 | 30 |
| 1928 | 20 |
| 1927 | 25 |
| 1926 | 43 |
| 1925 | 27 |
| 1924 | 30 |
| 1923 | 33 |
| 1922 | 34 |
| 1921 | 21 |
| 1920 | 18 |
| 1919 | 19 |
| 1918 | 33 |
| 1917 | 23 |
| 1916 | 27 |
| 1915 | 30 |
| 1914 | 19 |
| 1913 | 21 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 12 |
| 1910 | 19 |
| 1909 | 12 |
| 1908 | 12 |
| 1907 | 16 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1905 | 7 |
| 1904 | 11 |
| 1903 | 9 |
| 1902 | 11 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1899 | 11 |
| 1898 | 16 |
| 1897 | 11 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1895 | 12 |
| 1894 | 8 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1891 | 11 |
| 1890 | 7 |
| 1889 | 7 |
| 1888 | 9 |
| 1887 | 10 |
| 1886 | 6 |
| 1885 | 12 |
| 1884 | 8 |
| 1883 | 6 |
| 1882 | 5 |