Kara Tan

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Kara Tan — Irish
64K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Kara Tan 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 Tan: Tan is a common Chinese surname 譚. It is the 56th most commonly borne surname in China. Origin Two origins have been suggested for the Tan surname: The surname came from the ancient State of Tan which was located in the western part of what is now Shandong Province. During the Spring and Autumn period, this state was conquered by the neighbouring State of Qi. The court changed their surname to Tan in remembrance of their defeated homeland, and later prospered in Hunan Province. 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: Tan

Vietnamese

Tan is a common Chinese surname 譚. It is the 56th most commonly borne surname in China. Origin Two origins have been suggested for the Tan surname: The surname came from the ancient State of Tan which was located in the western part of what is now Shandong Province. During the Spring and Autumn period, this state was conquered by the neighbouring State of Qi. The court changed their surname to Tan in remembrance of their defeated homeland, and later prospered in Hunan Province.

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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
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Notable People Named Kara Tan

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 Tan:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

3
Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

9
Personality Number

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

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 Tan?
The surname Tan originates from Vietnamese. Tan is a common Chinese surname 譚. It is the 56th most commonly borne surname in China. Origin Two origins have been suggested for the Tan surname: The surname came from the ancient State of Tan which was located in the western part of what is now Shandong Province. During the Spring and Autumn period, this state was conquered by the neighbouring State of Qi. The court changed their surname to Tan in remembrance of their defeated homeland, and later prospered in Hunan Province.
What are the origins of the name Kara Tan?
The name Kara Tan combines two different traditions: the first name Kara has Irish roots, while the surname Tan originates from Vietnamese.
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