Cara (given name)

Cara is a female given name of Latin, Greek, or Celtic origin. It has been frequently used mostly in recent times, especially in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. [1] and can also be used as a short form for the name Caralee

Cara is an Irish, English, German and Italian language feminine given name from the Latin cārus meaning “darling, beloved, dear, loved one”.[2] It is also a Danish, Norwegian and Swedish feminine given name that is an alternate form of Kara as well as a short form of Carola, Carolina and Oscara.[3]

Cara means beloved in Latin and the names Carina, Cherie and Cheryl derive from it. [4] Cara also means friend in Irish language [5]

Kara, the alternative spelling, is from the Cornish word, meaning love. This is likely cognate to the popular Welsh girls' name Carys.

The name is also that of an island in the Inner Hebrides island group, Scotland; Cara Island lying just off the southern tip of the Isle of Gigha.

In Turkey, the word Kara means "dark", which may or may not be related to the Gaelic Ciara of the same meaning.

In Greece, the name Kara means "pure", and is related to the names Katharina, Katherine, and Katrina. In Ancient (and sometimes in modern) Greek language, Kara means Head.

In Japan, the word Kara means "empty", and is the basis of the name of the Karate martial art.

In Norse mythology, Kára was a valkyrie; in the Scandinavian languages, the name Kára either means "the wild, stormy one" (based on Old Norse afkárr, meaning "wild") or "curl" or "the curly one" (from Old Norse kárr).

Cara in different languages: Spanish/Portuguese/Latin/Greek - face, or expensive; Vietnamese- diamond size unit (cà rá) translated from caret; Africa-Hausa- to increase or complain. [6]