How Many People Are Named Cara?

Complete statistics for the name Cara: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Cara
Very Rare
Latin

Cara means 'beloved' in Latin, making it a rare gem among female names, with just 1 in 6,595 Americans bearing it today. That's around 50,038 people who share this special name across the country. Interestingly, Cara peaked in popularity back in 1985.

~687
Living in US
1 in 482,459
Americans
1985
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Beloved
🌐
Origin
Latin
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Loving Caring
5
Life Path Number

Life-path number 5 symbolizes freedom, adventure, and change.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

50,038
Worldwide Bearers
#4,228
Global Rank
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
543
🇮🇪 Ireland
508
🇮🇩 Indonesia
401
🇬🇭 Ghana
393
🇨🇳 China
377
🇳🇱 Netherlands
369
🇹🇭 Thailand
280
🇩🇪 Germany
222
🇮🇹 Italy
199
🇪🇬 Egypt
195

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
58 (0%)
♀ Female
49,980 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 41
13,322
Would be under 30 (25%)
33,666
Would be 30–60 (63%)
6,209
Would be over 60 (12%)

All 53,197 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1985

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
55
Modern Appeal
55
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Cara Through the Generations

Cara has seen a steady presence throughout the decades, reflecting its status as a timeless choice between classic and modern. With an estimated 50,038 individuals named Cara currently living in the United States, the name's distribution shows a balanced age range, with 25% under 30, 63% aged 30-60, and 12% over 60. This demographic spread suggests a consistent naming trend over the years, with the peak birth year occurring in 1985 when 1,472 babies were given the name Cara.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 4,316
New York 4,078
Texas 3,263
Pennsylvania 3,133
Ohio 2,902
Illinois 2,653
New Jersey 1,982
Michigan 1,859
Florida 1,789
Massachusetts 1,755

⭐ Famous People Named Cara

Cara is a feminine given name with multiple origins in different languages. It is often considered a spelling variant of the name Kara. 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 had 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. Both forms of the name had occasionally been used as a hypocorism for the name Caroline, as in the case …

Full list on Wikipedia →

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Cara's Latin roots

📄 About the Name Cara

How Many People Have the Name Cara?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 687 people in the United States currently share the name Cara. That works out to roughly 1 in every 482,459 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Cara a Common or Rare Name?

Cara is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Cara Mean?

Cara means "beloved" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Cara in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Cara Most Popular?

The name Cara reached peak popularity in 1985, with 1,472 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Cara?

Approximately 687 people named Cara live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 687. That works out to roughly 1 in 482,459 Americans.

Is Cara a rare name?

Cara is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 482,459 Americans has this name.

What does the name Cara mean?

Cara means "beloved" and comes from Latin origins.

Is Cara more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Cara are male and 100% are female.

When was Cara most popular?

Cara peaked in 1985 with 1,472 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US687
All-Time Births687
1 in X1 in 482,459
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age41
Peak Year1985
World Rank#4,228
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.