Chara
Derived from the Greek word "charis," meaning grace or kindness.
Name Census estimates that about 940 living Americans carry the first name Chara. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Chara today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chara births was 1982 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chara. 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
940
~ 1 in 364,632 Americans
Peak year
1982
39 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,779
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Chara: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chara from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 275 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chara 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 Chara during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Charas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Chara, while Florida, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Chara
The given name Chara has its roots in the Greek language, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "chara," which means joy, delight, or gladness. This name has been associated with a sense of happiness and positivity throughout its history.
In ancient Greek mythology, Chara was the personification of joy and one of the three Graces or Charites, along with Aglaia (Splendor) and Euphrosyne (Mirth). The Charites were attendants of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and were often depicted as graceful, charming, and joyous figures.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Chara can be found in the works of ancient Greek philosophers and poets, such as Pindar and Sappho, who celebrated the concept of joy and its embodiment in the form of the Graces.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chara. One of the earliest recorded figures was Chara of Crete, a Greek poet who lived in the 7th century BC and is known for her lyric poetry and contributions to the development of the literary tradition in ancient Greece.
Another prominent individual with the name Chara was Saint Chara, a 4th-century Christian martyr from Carthage who was executed during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Her feast day is celebrated on October 21st in the Catholic Church.
In the Renaissance period, Chara Ghisi (1520-1575) was an Italian engraver and artist known for her exceptional printmaking skills and contributions to the development of the art form.
During the 18th century, Chara Kaligeras (1748-1813) was a Greek revolutionary and military leader who fought against Ottoman rule in the Greek War of Independence.
More recently, Chara Nahabedian (born 1950) is an Armenian-American chef, author, and restaurateur who has gained recognition for her contributions to fine dining and the promotion of Armenian cuisine.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Chara, each contributing to various fields and leaving their mark in their respective eras. The name's association with joy and happiness has endured over time, making it a timeless and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with a positive connotation.
People
Chara + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chara 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
Chara: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chara?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 940 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chara 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 364,632 US residents.
Is Chara a common name?
We classify Chara as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,005 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chara most popular?
The single biggest year for Chara was 1982, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chara is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Chara a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Chara 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.