Carra
Of unknown origin, a feminine name sometimes associated with strength.
Name Census estimates that about 902 living Americans carry the first name Carra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Carra today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Carra births was 1993 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Carra. 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
902
~ 1 in 379,994 Americans
Peak year
1993
28 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,763
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Carra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Carra from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 211 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carra 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 Carra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Carras live
Origin
Meaning and history of Carra
The given name Carra is believed to have its origins in the Celtic languages, with roots tracing back to ancient Gaelic dialects spoken in regions that are now part of modern-day Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be a variant of the name Cara, which itself is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cáera," meaning "friend" or "beloved one."
In its earliest forms, the name Carra was likely used as a term of endearment or as a nickname for someone who was highly valued or cherished within their community. The first recorded instances of the name's usage can be found in ancient Irish annals and genealogical records dating back to the 5th century AD.
One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Carra was Saint Carra, an Irish nun and abbess who lived in the 6th century AD. She is venerated as the founder of the Benedictine monastery of Killcarra in County Mayo, Ireland, and is celebrated in the region for her piety and devotion to religious life.
Another historical figure associated with the name Carra was Carra MacAirt, a semi-legendary king of the Ailech dynasty, who is said to have ruled over parts of Ulster and Northern Ireland in the 3rd century AD. While the historical accuracy of his reign is debated, he remains an important figure in Irish folklore and tradition.
In the 12th century, Carra Ó Lochlainn, a powerful chieftain and member of the Northern Uí Néill dynasty, played a significant role in the political and military affairs of medieval Ireland. He was a prominent leader in the resistance against Anglo-Norman invasion and is remembered for his bravery and strategic prowess.
During the 16th century, Carra O'Daly, an Irish noblewoman and heiress, became renowned for her acts of generosity and charity towards the poor and underprivileged. Her philanthropic efforts and dedication to social welfare earned her widespread admiration and respect throughout the region.
In more recent times, Carra Gregg, a 19th-century Irish novelist and poet, gained recognition for her literary works that explored themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human emotions. Her poignant writing style and evocative prose earned her a place among the celebrated authors of her era.
People
Carra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Carra 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
Carra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Carra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 902 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Carra 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 379,994 US residents.
Is Carra a common name?
We classify Carra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,353 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Carra most popular?
The single biggest year for Carra was 1993, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Carra is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Carra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Carra 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.