Cerra
Of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Latin meaning "gatekeeper" or "guardian".
Name Census estimates that about 166 living Americans carry the first name Cerra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Cerra today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cerra births was 1995 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cerra. 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
166
~ 1 in 2,064,785 Americans
Peak year
1995
13 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2012 SSA rank
#15,361
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Cerra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cerra from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 102 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
Cerra 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 Cerra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cerra
The name Cerra is a relatively uncommon given name, with its origins shrouded in mystery. Some scholars believe it has its roots in ancient Latin, possibly derived from the word "cera," meaning "wax." The name may have been used in reference to those involved in the production or trade of wax candles or other wax-based products.
Another theory suggests that Cerra has its origins in the Celtic languages, with possible ties to the Gaelic word "ciar," meaning "dark" or "dusky." In this context, Cerra may have been used as a descriptive name for individuals with dark hair or complexions.
One of the earliest known references to the name Cerra can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a Gallic chieftain named Cerra in his work "Annals." This would suggest that the name was in use among the Celtic tribes of Gaul during the 1st century AD.
In medieval times, there are records of a few individuals bearing the name Cerra, though their precise origins and significance are unclear. One notable example is Cerra of Cologne, a 12th-century nun and mystic who was known for her visions and writings on spiritual matters.
Moving into the Renaissance period, we find Cerra Colonna, an Italian noblewoman from the powerful Colonna family, who lived in the 15th century. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the cultural life of Renaissance Rome.
Another notable figure was Cerra Vela, a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in the colonization of the Americas in the early 16th century. He was part of the expeditions led by Juan Ponce de León and served as a pilot and cartographer, helping to map the coastlines of Florida and the Caribbean.
In the 18th century, we have Cerra Picart, a French engraver and artist who was renowned for her intricate and detailed engravings of botanical subjects and natural history illustrations. Her work was highly prized and contributed significantly to the development of scientific illustration during the Enlightenment period.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Cerra, demonstrating its scattered presence across various cultures and time periods, albeit in a relatively rare and obscure manner.
People
Cerra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cerra 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
Cerra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cerra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 166 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cerra 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 2,064,785 US residents.
Is Cerra a common name?
We classify Cerra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 171 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cerra most popular?
The single biggest year for Cerra was 1995, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cerra is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cerra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cerra 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.