Kara is a distinctive choice, ranked #885 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Kara in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#885
US Rank #988
About the Name Kara
Kara has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 371 places in five years. It was most popular in 2011 at #186 β parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Kara is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school β standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #988 β notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Kara
Unlikely. With around 41 UK babies named Kara per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Kara in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Kara has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 371 places in the last five years. Its peak was #186 in 2011. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Kara is more popular in the UK (#885) than in the US (#988). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Kara include: Kara Tointon β Kara Louise Tointon is an English actress, known for playing Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.; Kara Wilson β Kara Wilson is a Scottish actress best known for her roles as Patience Heatherstone in the 1964 adaptation of The Children of the New Forest and as Miss...; Kara-Murza β Kara-Murza (Russian: ΠΠ°ΡΠ°Μ-ΠΡΡΠ·Π°Μ) is a surname of Tatar origin translated as "Black Prince" (Black "murza")..
Kara ranks #988 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
41
UK babies named Kara (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 371 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Kara
Likely around 1 other Kara in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Kara
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Kara Louise Tointon is an English actress, known for playing Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2015, she appeared as Maria in the ITV live production of The Sound of Music Live.
Kara Wilson is a Scottish actress best known for her roles as Patience Heatherstone in the 1964 adaptation of The Children of the New Forest and as Miss Caroline Gordon in the seventh series of children's soap opera Grange Hill.
Kara-Murza (Russian: ΠΠ°ΡΠ°Μ-ΠΡΡΠ·Π°Μ) is a surname of Tatar origin translated as "Black Prince" (Black "murza"). The Russian surname "Karamzin" was derived from the name.
Kara Patria Constantino David-Cancio is a Filipino journalist, host, professor, and educational administrator. She is known because of investigative and multi-awarded documentaries in i-Witness.
Kara Young is an American actress. Known for her dynamic roles on stage both on Broadway and off-Broadway, she has received various accolades, including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and an Obie Award.
Kara Killmer is an American actress, best known for starring as paramedic Sylvie Brett in the NBC drama series Chicago Fire (as well as the associated series Chicago Med and Chicago P.D., which together make up the One Chicago franchise), from 2014 to 2024. Prior to that, she starred in the short-lived 2010 Hulu original reality web series If I Can Dream.