Lara

Lara - A very unique female name

Lara appeared on the charts for the first time in 1920 on position #1906. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Lara and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Lara? 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 Lara. The baby girl name Lara was given to 362 baby girls in 2025, ranking #696 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,601 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Lara peaked in popularity 57 years ago in 1969 on position 221.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Lara, 1-5?

Lara is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Lara is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #327 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,597.

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 Lara is where you live.

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Lara origin and meaning

Russian short form of Larissa

Uncertain — Lara is the Russian short form of Larissa, a Greek name whose own meaning is disputed (often linked to a Thessalian city); Lara was also a nymph in Roman myth

Lara travelled west as the heroine's name in Doctor Zhivago — Larisssa, called Lara — and peaked in the US in 1969, after the film. It has risen modestly since 2020, and Lara Croft has kept it visible since 1996.

Origin uncertain

Lara is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Lara

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

Laura / Lori / Laurie / Lora / Lorie / Lorrie / Lauri / Lyra / Lorri / Leora /

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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 Lara

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 Lara 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 Lara?

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

LAH-ruh · /ˈlɑːrə/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Larissa — The full form from which Lara is shortened; a separate established name

Famous bearers

• Lara Flynn Boyle — Actress, known for Twin Peaks (b. 1970) Contemporary
• Lara Croft — The archaeologist-adventurer of the Tomb Raider games (Fictional, 1996) Fictional

Style

InternationalLiteraryShort form

Why parents choose it

Lara is a compact international classic — more distinctive than Laura, with a literary and quietly glamorous past.

Worth knowing

• Lara Croft is a strong gaming association; Laura is the spelling most people default to