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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Kara — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Kaptain|Karah
CelticGirl↓ Declining

Kara

KAR-uh · 2 syllables

Share Kara:
Compare with another name
Girl
#988
↓ Declining
#988
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 30
Peak rank
#673 in 2020
5yr change
-49 ranks
Birth frequency
7.3 per 100,000 births
Sex split
0% boy · 100% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #988 · Falling since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Celtic girl names
Kara

Popularity score: 30  ·  SSA Rank: #988

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
55
Higher than 55% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Declining
-49 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
2 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Kara scores well on uniqueness but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
18
Uniqueness20% of score
80
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
CelticIrishGirl2-syllableShortSimpleModernUncommonCool factorContemporary
Character
creative and expressivemysterious intensity
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Karas

determinedvolatileskilleddefiantcomplex
STRONG
High confidence

Kara is a Celtic girl name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #988 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Declining · -49 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#988 · rare
Kara at a Glance
Meaning:From Old Irish meaning 'friend' or 'beloved', also associated with dark and mysterious qualities in some Celtic traditions
Language root:Old Irish · Gaelic
Peak rank:#673 in 2020
5yr change:-49 ranks
Sex usage:0% boy · 100% girl
Notable bearers
Kara DioGuardi
Songwriter and TV personality
Kara Thrace
Battlestar Galactica character
Similar Sound
CaraKaya◈KiraKaylaCora
Similar Style
LaraMaraTaraZaraSara
Works well with
LiamSiobhanFionaDeclan◈AoifeCillian◈
You Might Also Like
Lara
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→ Stable
Mara
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Tara
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↑↑ Surging
Zara
Arabic · #234
→ Stable
Sara
Hebrew · #188
→ Stable
Ava
Celtic · #9
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Kara illustration
Name Intelligence
Kara · Overview
Summary

Kara is a Celtic girl name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #988 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 14/100 → Stable

Strengths
Modern character
Kara carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 49 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
kara.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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