Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Cara
GirlIrish, Italian· “friend; dear”
- Meaning
- friend; dear
- Origin
- Irish, Italian
- Pronunciation
- KAHR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,326
- US babies 2025
- 168
- Best rank
- #184 (1985)
- Peak year
- 1985
Meaning and origin of Cara
Cara is an Irish and Italian name that means “friend; dear”.
Cara has two gentle meanings from two languages. In Irish, cara means "friend," and in Italian, cara means "dear" or "beloved," from the Latin carus. The name came into use in the English-speaking world in the twentieth century and has a warm, uncomplicated charm. Pronunciations include KAHR-uh and KAIR-uh. Cara is short and easy to spell, and it pairs well with longer middle names. It can also be a short form of names such as Caroline or Carina. The spelling Kara is a common alternative.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kara, Kera.
Popularity over time
Cara first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 80 different years, starting in 1882. Its best national rank was #184 in 1985, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,465 babies. In 2025, 168 babies were named Cara, and it ranked #1,326 nationally. That is 57% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,085 in 1920, #1,101 in 1950, #203 in 1980, #393 in 2000, #643 in 2010, and #1,326 in 2025. Of the 53,305 US girls named Cara since records began, 25% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 10,413 babies. Since 2010, 5,103 more have been named Cara.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Christa, Shana, Sade, Trista, and Taryn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cara ranked highest in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #728 | 10 |
| New York | #867 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | #903 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | #1033 | 8 |
| Ohio | #1048 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Cara is usually pronounced KAHR-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with C and ends in “-ra”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kara and Kera.
Middle names for Cara
A few middle names that flow with Cara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cara
Similar names
Kiara Girl
kee-AR-uh
“bright, clear; or dark” · Italian
#229
Kiera Girl
KEER-uh
“dark” · Irish
#1,097
Ciara Girl
see-EHR-uh
“dark” · Irish
#1,408
Maura Girl
MAW-ruh
“uncertain; Irish name or dark” · Irish
#1,640
Dara Girl
DAR-uh
“several origins; oak (Irish)” · Irish
#1,129
Moira Girl
MOY-ruh
“Irish form of Mary; also Greek fate” · Irish
#2,047
Keira Girl
KEER-uh
“little dark one (from Ciara)” · Irish
#622
Laura Girl
LOR-uh
“laurel” · Latin
#379
Sandra Girl
SAN-druh
“defender of men” · Italian
#1,210
Tara Girl
TAIR-uh
“hill; also star” · Irish
#847
Chiara Girl
KYAHR-uh
“bright, clear” · Italian
#1,066
Zaira Girl
ZY-ruh
Italian
#1,081
Lists that include Cara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cara mean?
Cara is an Irish and Italian name that means “friend; dear”.
What is the origin of the name Cara?
Cara has Irish, Italian, and Latin roots. Cara has two gentle meanings from two languages.
Is Cara a popular name?
Not especially. Cara ranked #1,326 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Cara a boy or girl name?
Cara is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Cara?
Cara is usually pronounced KAHR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings