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Cara Name Meaning, Origins & History

Cara

Pronunciation: KAIR-uh / KAH-ruh

Meaning Darling Origin coinages Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#1,326
TREND
32
Peak Years
1985, 1984, 1977
Lowest Years
1882, 1883, 1886
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Cara in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Cara

  • More than 53 thousand babies named Cara: U.S. records list 53,365 babies given the name Cara from 1880 through 2025. Even 62 boys received the name Cara - about 1 boy for every 860 girls.

What Does the Name Cara Mean?

Cara is commonly understood to mean "beloved" or "dear one." This sense comes from Latin carus, meaning "dear, beloved," through its feminine form cara, which is an everyday word for "dear" in Italian and Spanish. In those languages cara is an adjective and a term of affection rather than a traditional given name.

A second and separate origin is Irish. In Irish, cara means "friend," and the name is used in Ireland with that meaning. The Italian and Irish words are spelled and pronounced alike, but they come from different languages, so the two meanings are usually listed separately rather than merged into one derivation.

Cara Name History & Origins

Cara has entered English by more than one route. The Italian and Spanish word cara ("dear") provided a name that English speakers adopted for its sound and meaning, while the Irish word cara ("friend") provided an independently used Irish name. In English-speaking countries Cara also appears as a surname, and as a first name it is sometimes treated as a short form of Caroline, Carolina, or Carola.

In Italian the word is part of ordinary speech and of terms of endearment. The phrase cara mia ("my beloved") became familiar to English speakers through popular songs, including the mid-20th-century hit "Cara Mia."

In Ireland, Cara is a name taken from the Irish noun for "friend." It is distinct from the similar-looking Irish name Ciara, which has a different origin. Because the Irish and Italian forms coincide in spelling, explanations of the name often mention both, but they reached English through different languages and carry different meanings.

How Popular is the Name Cara?

Cara recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1985. Its best rank was #184 in 1985.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Cara Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Cara's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cara's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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