Cara
How to say it: KAR-uh · /ˈkɑrə/
From Italian/Latin cara meaning 'dear' or 'beloved'; also an Irish name meaning 'friend'.
Cara was the 692nd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 168 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 61% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #965 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #692 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 168 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,414 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −61% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #965 |
| In France, 2025 | #894 among girls’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After peaking in the 1980s, Cara drifted downward. It now stands far below that high, and the next few years should bring further softening.
What goes with it
Soft and gentle with crisp edges, it feels warm and familiar. Clara and Mia share its style.
Honouring a Cara in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Cara is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #468. Ireland: #52.
Famous people named Cara
- Cara Black (born 1979)Zimbabwean tennis player
- Cara Buono (born 1971)American actress, screenwriter, and director
- Cara Cunningham (born 1987)American Internet personality, songwriter, and recording artist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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