Lara

Meaning of Lara

Lara is a short form of Larissa, a Greek city. It can also mean "citadel" or "protected."

Lara has Russian roots — browse every Russian baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Lara

Lara is climbing again, up to #693 in 2025 from #740 in 2024 after peaking at #635 in 2002.

Notable people named Lara

• Lara Croft
  Fictional video game adventurer
• Lara Flynn Boyle
  American actress
• Lara Dutta
  Indian actress, Miss Universe
• Lara Spencer
  American television presenter
• Lara Fabian
  Belgian-Canadian singer

More Russian names

Questions about the name Lara

What does the name Lara mean?

Lara means lara is a short form of larissa, a greek city. it can also mean "citadel" or "protected.", and it comes from Russian origins.

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

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

How popular is the name Lara?

In 2025, Lara ranked #693 for girls, up from #740 the year before.

When was Lara most popular?

Lara peaked at #635 in 2002.