Kara first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kara has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kara

Of Turkish origin meaning "black", "dark-colored" or "pure".

Popularity of Kara by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kara is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Kara being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 261 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kara.

YearMale CountFemale Count
20240261
20230282
20220316
20210370
20200426
20190529
20180620
20170609
20160625
20150622
20140730
20130833
20120860
20110937
201001,113
200901,389
200801,338
200701,171
200601,191
200501,229
200481,283
200301,357
200201,402
200101,476
200001,649
199901,688
199801,712
199751,907
199601,910
199502,148
199492,377
199302,528
199252,931
199103,280
199053,036
1989153,122
198863,039
1987132,700
1986172,721
1985132,811
198482,855
1983172,714
1982132,662
198182,438
1980132,445
1979122,299
197802,291
1977112,415
197682,037
1975142,358

The history of the first name Kara

The name Kara has its origins in various languages and cultures around the world. In Turkish, it means "black" or "dark-colored" and is derived from the Turkish word "kara." It has been a popular name in Turkey for centuries.

In Sanskrit, the name Kara means "rays of light" or "sun rays." It is also a variant of the name Kiran, which has a similar meaning. The name has been used in India since ancient times and is found in Hindu scriptures and texts.

In Greek, the name Kara is a variant of the name Chara, which means "joy" or "delight." It has been used in Greece since antiquity and has been passed down through generations.

In Armenian, the name Kara means "beloved" or "dear one." It has been a popular name among Armenians for many centuries and is found in various historical records and documents.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kara was in ancient Greece. Kara was the name of a female warrior who fought alongside the Amazons, as mentioned in Greek mythology.

In the 6th century, a Frankish queen named Kara was married to Clotaire I, the king of the Franks. She played a significant role in the political affairs of the Merovingian dynasty.

During the Middle Ages, Kara was the name of a Russian princess who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her beauty and intelligence and was married to a prominent nobleman.

In the 16th century, Kara Mustafa was a notable Ottoman grand vizier who served under Sultan Mehmed IV. He was known for his military campaigns and political strategies.

In the 19th century, Kara Karalina was a Bulgarian revolutionary and feminist who fought for women's rights and Bulgarian independence. She was a prominent figure in the Bulgarian National Revival movement.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kara, please contact us.

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