Caira
Of Irish origin, meaning "follower" or "descendant".
Name Census estimates that about 863 living Americans carry the first name Caira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Caira today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Caira births was 2005 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Caira. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
863
~ 1 in 397,166 Americans
Peak year
2005
40 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,190
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Caira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Caira from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 304 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caira by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Caira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cairas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Florida, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Caira, while Michigan, New York, North Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Caira
The name Caira is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic languages, specifically Gaelic and Irish. It is thought to be derived from the old Irish word "caor," which means "berry" or "small fruit." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term or nickname for someone with a ruddy complexion or rosy cheeks, resembling the color of berries.
During the medieval period, the name Caira was primarily found in Ireland and Scotland, where it was commonly used by families with Celtic roots. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Irish annals and genealogical records dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Caira was Caira of Connacht, a 12th-century Irish noblewoman and chieftain who played a significant role in the struggles against the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. She is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles for her leadership and resistance against the invading forces.
In the 16th century, a Scottish woman named Caira MacDonald was known for her skills as a healer and herbalist. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional remedies was widely respected, and she was often sought out for her expertise in treating various ailments.
Another prominent figure with the name Caira was Caira O'Donnell, a 17th-century Irish poet and bardic composer. Her works, which celebrated the culture and traditions of her people, were highly regarded and helped preserve the rich literary heritage of Ireland during a turbulent period in its history.
In the 19th century, Caira McNeill was a notable Irish-American suffragist and activist for women's rights. She was actively involved in the women's suffrage movement in the United States and worked tirelessly to secure the right to vote for women.
Caira Flanagan, born in 1892, was an Irish-American labor organizer and union leader. She played a crucial role in advocating for better working conditions and fair wages for factory workers, particularly in the textile industry, during the early 20th century.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Caira. While the name may have fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its rich cultural heritage and historical significance remain an important part of its legacy.
People
Caira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Caira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Caira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Caira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 863 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Caira going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 397,166 US residents.
Is Caira a common name?
We classify Caira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 882 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Caira most popular?
The single biggest year for Caira was 2005, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Caira is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Caira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Caira in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.