Kara

Updated: October 11, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Kara is a captivating baby girl name. Sublime in its depth and simplicity, the universality of the name has delighted cultures across the globe. Kara Leary is a central character in the Sims 3 video game, Kara Thrace is the main character on television's Battlestar Galactica, and Kara Zor-El is a DC Comics superheroine. Keep reading to learn more about this baby name.

Meaning of the name Kara:

Latin: Beloved, darling, dear
Irish: Friend
Turkish: Dark
Greek: Pure
Old Norse: Stormy, curly

Origin of the name Kara:

Kara has several unique etymologies. The first origin is a variation of the Latin word cārus (meaning “beloved,” “darling” or “dear”). This origin has produced pet names like Karina, a popular diminutive in countries like Russia. In Romance languages, the word can also mean “face” (in reference to the Old Latin word for “head”).

For Irish speakers, Kara is a spelling variation of the word for “friend.” In the Turkish language, Kåra means “dark.” Some scholars have linked the Turkish name to the Gaelic name Kiara (or Ciara) since both names have the same meaning. In Old Norse, Kára was a Valkyrie whose name meant “stormy” (derived from the word afkárr) or “curly” (derived from the Old Norse kárr). Finally, the Greek translation of Kara is “pure.” It is related to longer names like Katherine and Katrina.

Symbolism of the name Kara:

Kara has several etymologies that give the name its lively history. One of the most symbolic uses of the name Kara was the Turkish Kåra (meaning “dark”). During the Ottoman Empire, royal officials often adopted Kåra as a title or byname to mean “courageous” or “undefeated” in battle and administrative rule. In Norse mythology, Kára was often a feminine symbol of reincarnation.