Kara

Meaning of Kara

Pronounced KAIR-uh (/kɑˈrə/) in contemporary English, Kara is etymologically multifaceted, deriving on one axis from the Italian adjective “cara,” signifying “beloved,” and on another from the Gaelic noun “cara,” meaning “friend,” while a tertiary, less prevalent vector traces to the Old Turkic “kara,” denoting “dark” or “black,” a semantic breadth that has permitted the name to carry connotations of affection, loyalty, and quiet strength simultaneously. First documented in the United States at the close of the nineteenth century, Kara began a modest ascent after mid-century, accelerated sharply through the 1970s, and—after peaking at rank 95 in 1988—entered a gradual, statistically smooth decline to its present position just outside the national top 600, a trajectory that situates it among names that were mainstream enough to be widely recognizable yet never so ubiquitous as to lose their individuality. Cultural associations reinforce this balanced profile: Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) embeds the name in the comic-book and cinematic canon; composer-producer Kara DioGuardi and actress Kara Hayward introduce links to music and film; and, in literary circles, Kara’s phonetic kinship with the Latin “caritas” (charity) has encouraged occasional symbolic use to evoke kindness. Collectively, these linguistic roots, demographic patterns, and cultural touchpoints present Kara as a historically resilient, semantically rich choice for parents seeking a name that communicates warmth and fidelity without relinquishing a quiet, understated distinction.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as KAIR-uh (/kɑˈrə/)

• Kaya
• Kira
• Cara
• Karla
• Karina
• Karen
• Kiara