Cara

#1,326 for girls in 2025, 168 births · Last seen for boys in 1992 at #8,435
Given to girls 99.9% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1985 · 1,465 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
53,305
since 1882

Cara over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Cara has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201989peak #184, 1985girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,326168—
2024#1,296178—
2023#1,264182—
2022#1,163208—
2021#1,024248—
2020#907289—
2019#1,020252—
2018#874310—
2017#860318—
2016#808352—
2015#728389—
2014#675421—
2013#620451—
2012#695404—
2011#609473—
2010#642460—
2009#468663—
2008#464681—
2007#539579—
2006#554531—
2005#550522—
2004#508570—
2003#503568—
2002#481584—
2001#458604—
2000#393732—
1999#386728—
1998#359807—
1997#343819—
1996#324862—
1995#308900—
1994#2731,026—
1993#2511,106—
1992#2481,125#8,4355
1991#2281,259—
1990#2341,212—
1989#2111,275#5,1659
1988#2071,268#7,2705
1987#2131,232#4,9688
1986#1941,338—
1985#1841,465#5,1477
1984#1911,440—
1983#1911,394—
1982#2041,328#5,6196
1981#2091,261#6,2625
1980#2031,276—
1979#2111,247#4,8427
1978#1911,346—
1977#1891,411#5,8455
1976#2191,103#5,5875
1975#2071,192—
1974#2351,074—
1973#286847—
1972#324722—
1971#337755—
1970#351716—
1969#367636—
1968#414508—
1967#365604—
1966#347677—
1965#274987—
1964#366663—
1963#368682—
1962#455448—
1961#531340—
1960#663234—
1959#706200—
1958#878134—
1957#782165—
1956#736172—
1955#773154—
1954#847124—
1953#940101—
1952#1,00887—
1951#1,01484—
1950#1,09970—
1949#1,05672—
1948#1,28551—
1947#1,23853—
1946#1,25747—
1945#1,15546—
1944#1,23641—
1943#1,08754—
1942#1,13748—
1941#1,11744—
1940#1,21836—
1939#1,47426—
1938#1,18238—
1937#1,06345—
1936#1,13539—
1935#1,41827—
1934#1,16637—
1933#1,60622—
1932#1,42128—
1931#2,10515—
1930#1,46028—
1929#1,39330—
1928#1,89720—
1927#1,66925—
1926#1,16643—
1925#1,60927—
1924#1,53330—
1923#1,38833—
1922#1,36634—
1921#1,92721—
1920#2,07918—
1919#1,92119—
1918#1,33333—
1917#1,60523—
1916#1,40827—
1915#1,28530—
1914#1,48019—
1913#1,22921—
1912#1,35216—
1911#1,37212—
1910#99719—
1909#1,21912—
1908#1,20312—
1907#94516—
1906#1,15411—
1905#1,5387—
1904#1,09211—
1903#1,2049—
1902#1,07511—
1901#1,3397—
1900#91717—
1899#98311—
1898#84016—
1897#98211—
1896#1,2138—
1895#93212—
1894#1,1368—
1893——
1892#1,1717—
1891#83911—
1890#1,0997—
1889#1,0257—
1888#8949—
1887#73310—
1886#9936—
1885#62912—
1884#7938—
1883#8176—
1882#9085—
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1882

The first year at least five girls were named Cara! It came in at #908, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1893, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Cara is popular in 1989

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedAKMaine: #196 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,049 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #125 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 626 girlsNHWashington: #325 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,966 girlsWAIdaho: #183 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 856 girlsIDMontana: #178 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 717 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #206 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,347 girlsMNIllinois: #214 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 1,288 girlsILWisconsin: #198 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,221 girlsWIMichigan: #219 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 1,374 girlsMINew York: #212 for girls · 92 births · 1 in 1,291 girlsNYMassachusetts: #132 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 713 girlsMARhode Island: #113 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 536 girlsRIOregon: #218 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,148 girlsORNevada: #180 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 878 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #111 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 459 girlsSDIowa: #204 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,220 girlsIAIndiana: #145 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 780 girlsINOhio: #174 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 1,043 girlsOHPennsylvania: #151 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 876 girlsPANew Jersey: #145 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 857 girlsNJConnecticut: #109 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 531 girlsCTCalifornia: #406 for girls · 100 births · 1 in 2,440 girlsCAUtah: #215 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,034 girlsUTColorado: #160 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 858 girlsCONebraska: #153 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 760 girlsNEMissouri: #131 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 723 girlsMOKentucky: #202 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,252 girlsKYWest Virginia: #136 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 676 girlsWVVirginia: #161 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 1,003 girlsVAMaryland: #165 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 955 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedDEArizona: #403 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,312 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedNMKansas: #154 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 785 girlsKSArkansas: #261 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,562 girlsARTennessee: #205 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,241 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #224 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,356 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #399 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,829 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #206 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,150 girlsOKLouisiana: #560 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,679 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Cara, so not publishedMSAlabama: #288 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,744 girlsALGeorgia: #282 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,819 girlsGAHawaii: #85 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 361 girlsHITexas: #314 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 1,879 girlsTXFlorida: #252 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 1,639 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#85 · 1 in 361
  2. Connecticut#109 · 1 in 531
  3. South Dakota#111 · 1 in 459
  4. Rhode Island#113 · 1 in 536
  5. New Hampshire#125 · 1 in 626

Best ever in a state: #79 in New Hampshire, 1977.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#85141 in 361
Connecticut#109361 in 531
South Dakota#11181 in 459
Rhode Island#113101 in 536
New Hampshire#125111 in 626
Missouri#131451 in 723
Massachusetts#132541 in 713
West Virginia#136131 in 676
Indiana#145441 in 780
New Jersey#145561 in 857
Pennsylvania#151821 in 876
Nebraska#153121 in 760
Kansas#154181 in 785
Colorado#160241 in 858
Virginia#161371 in 1,003
Maryland#165291 in 955
Ohio#174671 in 1,043
Montana#17851 in 717
Nevada#18071 in 878
Idaho#18361 in 856
Maine#19661 in 1,049
Wisconsin#198241 in 1,221
Kentucky#202171 in 1,252
Iowa#204131 in 1,220
Tennessee#205241 in 1,241
Minnesota#206211 in 1,347
Oklahoma#206151 in 1,150
New York#212921 in 1,291
Illinois#214601 in 1,288
Utah#215131 in 1,034
Oregon#218141 in 1,148
Michigan#219441 in 1,374
North Carolina#224301 in 1,356
Florida#252471 in 1,639
Arkansas#26181 in 1,562
Georgia#282231 in 1,819
Alabama#288131 in 1,744
Texas#314711 in 1,879
Washington#325151 in 1,966
South Carolina#39971 in 2,829
Arizona#403111 in 2,312
California#4061001 in 2,440
Louisiana#56071 in 3,679
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Mississippi———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Cara
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 30 spots since 2024 (#1,296 → #1,326)
  • 419 spots since 2020 (#907 → #1,326)
  • 598 spots since 2015 (#728 → #1,326)
  • Biggest jump: 260 spots in 1887 (#993 → #733)
  • Biggest drop: 422 spots in 1901 (#917 → #1,339)
Rise & fade · girls
103 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1882
  • Peaked 1985 at #184 (1,465 births)
  • Births halved by 1999, 14 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 82 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 82 yrs · run 1953–2018
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,087
  • Highest: 1 in 1,087 girls born in 1977 were named Cara (0.09%)
  • Latest: 1 in 9,567 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #184 in 1985, was only 1 in 1,175 (0.09%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1980s
  • 24.9% of all girls named Cara (13,277) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s63#629 (1885)#849
1890s91#839 (1891)#1,022
1900s113#917 (1900)#1,169
1910s219#997 (1910)#1,398
1920s281#1,166 (1926)#1,603
1930s305#1,063 (1937)#1,403
1940s492#1,056 (1949)#1,179
1950s1,291#706 (1959)#878
1960s5,779#274 (1965)#415
1970s10,413#189 (1977)#255
1980s13,277#184 (1985)#201
1990s9,844#228 (1991)#295
2000s6,034#393 (2000)#492
2010s3,830#609 (2011)#753
2020s1,273#907 (2020)#1,163

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Cara in 1989

girls
#211
1,275 births · 1 in 1,446 girls
boys
#5,165
9 births · 1 in 222,325 boys

Top girls' names in 1989

  1. #1Jessica47,887
  2. #2Ashley47,588
  3. #3Brittany37,792
  4. #4Amanda36,834
  5. #5Sarah27,797
  6. #6Samantha24,792
  7. #7Jennifer24,006
  8. #8Stephanie22,766
  9. #9Lauren21,065
  10. #10Elizabeth20,298
  11. #211Cara1,275

Top boys' names in 1989

  1. #1Michael65,415
  2. #2Christopher53,186
  3. #3Matthew45,375
  4. #4Joshua44,100
  5. #5David35,225
  6. #6Daniel35,007
  7. #7Andrew34,817
  8. #8Justin32,852
  9. #9James32,720
  10. #10Robert30,072
  11. #5,165Cara9
More about 1989

girls

1,843,552 girls got a published name in 1989; 1 in 1,446 of them was named Cara, which outranked 98.5% of the 14,550 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Cara
  1. #208Kasey1,286
  2. #209Ariel1,284
  3. #209Hillary1,284
  4. #211Cara1,275
  5. #212Abby1,274
  6. #213Adrienne1,270
  7. #214Michele1,267
Biggest movers since 1988
Risers
  1. ↑ 9,523Audriana#10,386 → #863
  2. ↑ 7,504Martika#8,391 → #887
  3. ↑ 6,932Audrianna#7,691 → #759
  4. ↑ 3,972Elizabet#4,496 → #524
  5. ↑ 1,772Katherin#2,489 → #717
Fallers
  1. ↓ 539Diandra#905 → #1,444
  2. ↓ 524Taja#720 → #1,244
  3. ↓ 455Jonathan#999 → #1,454
  4. ↓ 445Katarina#960 → #1,405
  5. ↓ 397Caryn#816 → #1,213

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,000,928 boys got a published name in 1989; 1 in 222,325 of them was named Cara, which outranked 44.1% of the 9,232 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 20.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Cara
  1. #4,811Zerrick10
  2. #4,811Zoe10
  3. #4,811Zuri10
  4. #5,165Cara9
  5. #5,165Abdallah9
  6. #5,165Abiel9
  7. #5,165Abrahim9
  8. #5,615Abdel8
  9. #5,615Abdias8
  10. #5,615Abed8

Tied with 449 names at #5,165; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1988
Risers
  1. ↑ 6,314Kiara#7,270 → #956
  2. ↑ 5,870Alexande#6,426 → #556
  3. ↑ 1,111Kwame#1,768 → #657
  4. ↑ 766Kadeem#1,467 → #701
  5. ↑ 684Hakeem#1,270 → #586
Fallers
  1. ↓ 839Long#819 → #1,658
  2. ↓ 337Darell#981 → #1,318
  3. ↓ 294Whitney#890 → #1,184
  4. ↓ 269Trevin#840 → #1,109
  5. ↓ 252Curt#850 → #1,102

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1989 →