Meaning and Origin of the Name Cara
The name Cara (also spelled Kara) is traditionally a female name that rose to popularity in the 1970s. It has Celtic and Latin roots, although the name has numerous meanings among different cultures and language groups.
Cara is a popular shortened version of other names like Caralee, Caroline, and Charlotte. The first recorded use of the name was in Evelyn Waugh’s novel “Brideshead.” In the Irish Gaelic language, Cara means ‘Friend’ and in Latin, the name translates to ‘dear’ or ‘beloved’. Also, the alternative spelling for Cara, Kara, means love in the Cornish Language.
Depending on where you look and what you read, The meaning of Cara has many different listings and many different origins. For instance; in Latin it means ‘Dear’ or ‘Friend’, in Italian it means ‘Beloved’ or ‘Sweet Melody’, and in Spanish it means ‘Face’.
Popularity
One thing that is clear about the name is that it wasn’t used as a given-name until after the 19th century with it’s popularity not truly coming into play until after the 1950’s.
Although the name was not among England’s top 100 names for baby girls in 2017, Cara is still becoming increasingly more popular. Cara is the namesake of several influential celebrities, which may explain why the name is expected to grow in popularity.
Famous People with the Name Cara
Some famous Caras include:
- the fashion model and actress Cara Delevingne known for her role as Enchantress in “Suicide Squad”.
- Other famous Cara’s include Cara Black, a professional tennis player,
- Cara Horgan, a British actress,
- Cara Hunter the bestselling author of crime novels like “Close to Home”.
Variations on the Name
There are also many variants of the name. Kara (meaning ‘Love’ in Cornish) for one, as well as Karaugh, Cahra, Caira, and Carabel, just to name a few.
Useful Resources
Discover the meaning and popularity of other English girls’ names.
