Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Kara
GirlLatin, Italian· “dear, beloved”
- Meaning
- dear, beloved
- Origin
- Latin, Italian
- Pronunciation
- KEHR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,075
- US babies 2025
- 226
- Best rank
- #95 (1984)
- Peak year
- 1991
Meaning and origin of Kara
Kara is a Latin and Italian name that is usually said to mean “dear, beloved”.
Kara is a spelling of Cara, which comes from the Latin carus and Italian cara, meaning dear or beloved. In Irish the similar word cara means friend, which adds another warm layer to the name. The K spelling is common in English-speaking countries and in Scandinavia, and in Turkish the word kara means black, so the name can have different meanings in different places. Kara has been used steadily in the United States since the mid-twentieth century. It is short, friendly and easy to pair with longer middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Cara, Kera.
Popularity over time
Kara first appears in US Social Security records in 1896. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 67 different years, starting in 1956. Its best national rank was #95 in 1984, and the most babies received it in 1991, when 3,281 were named Kara. In 2025, 226 babies were named Kara, and it ranked #1,075 nationally. That is 64% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,664 in 1950, #127 in 1980, #192 in 2000, #292 in 2010, and #1,075 in 2025. Of the 101,743 US girls named Kara since records began, 27% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 23,514 babies. Since 2010, 9,376 more have been named Kara.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Rachael, Chelsey, Bianca, Ana, and Meagan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kara ranked highest in Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Kara is usually pronounced KEHR-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-ra”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Cara and Kera.
Middle names for Kara
A few middle names that flow with Kara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kara
Similar names
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KYAHR-uh
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Lists that include Kara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kara mean?
Kara is a Latin and Italian name that is usually said to mean “dear, beloved”.
What is the origin of the name Kara?
Kara has Latin, Italian, and Irish roots. Kara is a spelling of Cara, which comes from the Latin carus and Italian cara, meaning dear or beloved.
Is Kara a popular name?
Not especially. Kara ranked #1,075 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kara a boy or girl name?
Kara is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Kara?
Kara is usually pronounced KEHR-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