When was Kara most popular?

The name Kara reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Kara Lara?

The name Kara Lara combines two different traditions: the first name Kara has Irish roots, while the surname Lara originates from Spanish.

Kara Lara — 64K & 83K bearers

Kara Lara is a name that combines Irish origins. The first name Kara is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Kara is both a given name and a surname with various, unrelated origins in various cultures. As an English name, it is usually considered a modern spelling variant of the Italian endearment cara, meaning beloved, or the Irish word cara, meaning friend. Neither Cara nor Kara has been in common use as a name in Italy or Ireland prior to the 20th century, though Kara had been in use as an independent name in the United States since at least the 1890s. It had occasionally been used as a hypocorism for the name Caroline. The surname Lara: Lara is a feminine given name or a surname in several languages. It can be used as a short form of the name Larissa. It was popularized in the Anglosphere by a character in the 1965 film Dr. Zhivago. Lara is also a water nymph in Roman Mythology who is the mother of the Lares. The name is of uncertain etymology. The name has been among the top 1,000 names used for newborn girls in the United States since 1966, the year after the film Dr. Zhivago debuted. The name has also seen wide use in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. Kara is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 64K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Kara reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Kara

Irish

Kara is both a given name and a surname with various, unrelated origins in various cultures. As an English name, it is usually considered a modern spelling variant of the Italian endearment cara, meaning beloved, or the Irish word cara, meaning friend. Neither Cara nor Kara has been in common use as a name in Italy or Ireland prior to the 20th century, though Kara had been in use as an independent name in the United States since at least the 1890s. It had occasionally been used as a hypocorism for the name Caroline.

Surname: Lara

Spanish

Lara is a feminine given name or a surname in several languages. It can be used as a short form of the name Larissa. It was popularized in the Anglosphere by a character in the 1965 film Dr. Zhivago. Lara is also a water nymph in Roman Mythology who is the mother of the Lares. The name is of uncertain etymology. The name has been among the top 1,000 names used for newborn girls in the United States since 1966, the year after the film Dr. Zhivago debuted. The name has also seen wide use in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and across Europe.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Kara is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 28%

Australia 13%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Kara by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Kara Lara

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Kara Lara:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

4

Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

5

Personality Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Kara?: The first name Kara originates from Irish. Kara is both a given name and a surname with various, unrelated origins in various cultures. As an English name, it is usually considered a modern spelling variant of the Italian endearment cara, meaning beloved, or the Irish word cara, meaning friend. Neither Cara nor Kara has been in common use as a name in Italy or Ireland prior to the 20th century, though Kara had been in use as an independent name in the United States since at least the 1890s. It had occasionally been used as a hypocorism for the name Caroline.
When was Kara most popular?: The name Kara reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Lara?: The surname Lara originates from Spanish. Lara is a feminine given name or a surname in several languages. It can be used as a short form of the name Larissa. It was popularized in the Anglosphere by a character in the 1965 film Dr. Zhivago. Lara is also a water nymph in Roman Mythology who is the mother of the Lares. The name is of uncertain etymology. The name has been among the top 1,000 names used for newborn girls in the United States since 1966, the year after the film Dr. Zhivago debuted. The name has also seen wide use in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and across Europe.
What are the origins of the name Kara Lara?: The name Kara Lara combines two different traditions: the first name Kara has Irish roots, while the surname Lara originates from Spanish.