Cara
Cara is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Beloved, dear, or friend.
Origin and history
Cara is a given name of Gaelic and Latin roots, derived from the Irish word for friend or the Italian and Latin word for dear or beloved. It became popular in the United States during the late 20th century. Today, it remains a soft and classic choice with steady moderate usage.
Popularity in the United States
53,305 babies in the United States have been named Cara since 1880. It ranks #562 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1057.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.9 %)
- NY (8.4 %)
- TX (6.7 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
- OH (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 63 |
| 1890-1900 | 91 |
| 1900-1910 | 113 |
| 1910-1920 | 219 |
| 1920-1930 | 281 |
| 1930-1940 | 305 |
| 1940-1950 | 492 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,291 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,779 |
| 1970-1980 | 10,413 |
| 1980-1990 | 13,277 |
| 1990-2000 | 9,844 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,034 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,830 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,273 |
Famous people named Cara
- Cara Delevingne: Model, Actress
- Cara Buono: Actress, Screenwriter
Fun facts
- Cara independently developed as 'friend' in Irish Gaelic and as 'dear' or 'beloved' from Latin.
- The name experienced its peak popularity in the United States during the late 1970s and 1980s.