Kara

Kara - A very unique female name

Kara appeared on the charts for the first time in 1947 on position #1803. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kara and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kara? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kara. The baby girl name Kara was given to 184 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1051 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,084 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kara peaked in popularity 42 years ago in 1984 on position 95.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kara, 1-5?

Kara is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kara is currently topping the baby name charts in Ohio at position #655 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,459.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kara is where you live.

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Kara origin and meaning

Multiple origins — disputed

Uncertain — Kara converges from several sources: Italian cara, 'dear'; a respelling of Cara; Norse and Turkish names spelled Kara ('black' in Turkish); no single origin explains the American name

Kara rose in the US from the 1950s to a peak in 1991, as a punchier K- respelling of Cara, the Italian 'dear' name — but the same spelling also exists independently in Norse tradition and as the Turkish word for 'black.' American use is mostly the Cara route, modernised with a K. It has fallen steadily since its peak.

Origin uncertain

Kara is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kara, pop culture references for the name Kara and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kara

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kara, sorted by popularity.

Kari / Kiara / Kerry / Kira / Kyra / Kerri / Keira / Keri / Kiera / Kierra /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kara

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kara a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kara?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAH-ruh · /ˈkɑːrə/
Families split between KAIR-uh (like Cara) and KAH-ruh; both are common.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Cara — The Italian-rooted original, a separate established name
• Karah — A spelling variant with a decorative -h

Famous bearers

• Kara Walker — American artist known for her silhouette installations exploring race and American history (b. 1969) Contemporary
• Kara DioGuardi — American songwriter and former American Idol judge (b. 1970) Contemporary

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Parents who choose Kara now get a short, strong 80s–90s name at a fraction of its former popularity. It feels direct and no-nonsense.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation splits (KAIR-uh vs KAH-ruh) and the Kara/Cara spelling split both cause daily friction
• Falling since 1991, so it reads as a mum-generation name