Kara
Say it: KAR-a
GirlMeans friend, from Irish cara, or dear, from Italian cara4 letters2 syllables
#413
in Ireland (2025)
#410 with spellings combined
9
babies in 2025
#165
best rank (2015)
674
babies since 1970
Down 245
10-year rank change
Kara through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #410 |
| 2024 | 10 | #368 |
| 2023 | 15 | #263 |
| 2022 | 18 | #240 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 12 | #335 |
| 2019 | 30 | #170 |
| 2018 | 27 | #188 |
| 2017 | 29 | #178 |
| 2016 | 22 | #217 |
| 2015 | 35 | #165 |
| 2014 | 21 | #242 |
| 2013 | 31 | #185 |
| 2012 | 20 | #251 |
| 2011 | 35 | #168 |
| 2010 | 32 | #191 |
| 2009 | 29 | #201 |
| 2008 | 21 | #251 |
| 2007 | 17 | #267 |
| 2006 | 13 | #303 |
| 2005 | 11 | #320 |
| 2004 | 7 | #414 |
| 2003 | 8 | #362 |
| 2002 | 13 | #267 |
| 2001 | 7 | #369 |
| 2000 | 14 | #239 |
| 1999 | 9 | #279 |
| 1997 | 6 | #394 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 4 | #451 |
| 1994 | 9 | #309 |
| 1993 | 6 | #385 |
| 1992 | 4 | #455 |
| 1991 | 6 | #393 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1987 | 6 | #386 |
| 1986 | 4 | #458 |
| 1985 | 5 | #421 |
| 1984 | 8 | #343 |
| 1983 | 6 | #401 |
| 1982 | 11 | #312 |
| 1981 | 6 | #386 |
| 1980 | 6 | #401 |
| 1979 | 4 | #467 |
| 1978 | 6 | #388 |
| 1977 | 6 | #391 |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 8 | #321 |
| 1974 | 23 | #210 |
| 1973 | 4 | #449 |
| 1972 | 5 | #389 |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
| 1970 | 4 | #396 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Kara mean?
Friend, from Irish cara, or dear, from Italian cara
A spelling of Cara, from Irish cara (friend) or Italian cara (dear).
Say it right
KARa
Some say KAIR-a or KAH-ra.
The story of Kara
Kara is a spelling of Cara. That name is usually traced to the Irish word cara, friend, or to the Italian cara, dear. Neither was much used as a name before the 20th century. In Scandinavia, Kára is a separate name, linked to a valkyrie in Norse myth.
The spelling with a K was helped along by Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl, who made her debut in American comics in 1959.
Kara first appears in the CSO records in 1970. It grew slowly and peaked in the 2010s, with 35 girls in 2011 and again in 2015, when it reached number 165. It has been more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 93 in 2006. The CSO counts Kara and Cara separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Kara (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Kara (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Kara | 9 | 674 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #93 (2006); 275 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.