Kara

At a Glance: Name: Kara – Meaning: variant of Cara: 'dear, beloved' (Latin/Italian) or 'friend' (Irish Gaelic) – Origin: Irish/Latin (variant of Cara) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: KAIR-uh

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Kara is a variant of Cara, an Irish and Latin name meaning "dear, beloved" or, in Irish Gaelic, "friend." It's pronounced KAIR-uh. Choosing Kara means giving your daughter a name rooted in words for closeness and affection.

Meaning & Origin of Kara

Meaning: Variant of cara: 'dear, beloved' (latin/italian) or 'friend' (irish gaelic).

Origin: Irish/Latin (variant of Cara).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Kara

Phonetic: KAIR-uh   IPA: /ˈkɛrə/

Popularity of Kara

Kara reached its peak in 1984, when 2,855 baby girls were given the name, ranking it #95 that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #988, with just 261 babies named Kara.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1896–2024.

Make Kara Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kara, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Ai
• Anne
• Cara
• Carys
• Ceri
• Eira

FAQ

What does the name Kara mean?

Variant of cara: ‘dear, beloved’ (latin/italian) or ‘friend’ (irish gaelic). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kara)

How do you pronounce Kara?

Kara is pronounced KAIR-uh (IPA: /ˈkɛrə/).

Is Kara a popular name right now?

Kara peaked at #95 in 1984 and is ranked #988 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1896–2024.)

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