Irish girl name
Cara Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Cara means friend. From the Irish word cara, meaning friend
Cara is a simple and friendly name drawn directly from the Irish word cara, meaning friend. It is also close to the Italian cara, meaning dear, which gives it a pleasing overlap across languages. In Ireland it is a standard and long-used choice, and it is gentle on the ear with just two syllables. Because the spelling is easy, it travels well abroad and rarely needs correction. Cara is a good fit for families who want a short Gaelic word name with a warm meaning and a timeless sound.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Cara
KaraCaraghCarah
Well-known people named Cara
Cara Delevingne.
Cara popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Cara ranked #52 in Ireland (94 babies) and #1,326 in the US (168 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (girls)United States (girls)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cara mean?
Cara means "friend". From the Irish word cara, meaning friend.
How do you pronounce Cara?
Cara is pronounced KAR-a.
What is the origin of Cara?
Cara is of Irish origin. From the Irish word cara, meaning friend.