Kara

Meaning of Kara

In Irish, Kara means "friend". In Italian, it's a short form of names meaning "beloved" or "dear".

Kara has Irish/Italian roots — browse every Irish/Italian baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Kara

After ranking as high as #192 in 2000, Kara has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Kara

• Kara DioGuardi
  American songwriter and record producer
• Kara Tointon
  British actress and dancer
• Kara Goucher
  American long-distance runner
• Kara Hayward
  American actress
• Kara Walker
  American contemporary artist

More Irish/Italian names

Questions about the name Kara

What does the name Kara mean?

Kara means in irish, kara means "friend". in italian, it's a short form of names meaning "beloved" or "dear", and it comes from Irish/Italian origins.

Is Kara a boy's or a girl's name?

Kara is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Kara?

Kara did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Kara most popular?

Kara peaked at #192 in 2000.