Lara Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lara is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lara?
Lara is spelled L-A-R-A. The name has 4 letters.
Lara at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Lara may derive from the Latin word meaning “famous or cheerful” or from the name of a water nymph in Roman mythology.
- Origin
- Lara is commonly associated with Latin origins and Roman mythology, where it is linked to a nymph figure.
- Pronunciation
- LAH-rah · 2 syllables
Lara Popularity in 2025
Rank#691
Recorded Births409
- Girls usage rose 50 places to #691 and recorded 29 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lara Mean?
Lara may derive from the Latin word meaning “famous or cheerful” or from the name of a water nymph in Roman mythology.
Origin: Lara is commonly associated with Latin origins and Roman mythology, where it is linked to a nymph figure.
How Do You Pronounce Lara?
PronunciationLAH-rah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Lara?
- History
- Historical texts document the use of the name Lara in Roman contexts and its adoption as a given name in various languages over time.
Lara Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 409 | #691 |
| 2024 | Girls | 380 | #741 |
| 2023 | Girls | 384 | #731 |
| 2022 | Girls | 424 | #693 |
| 2021 | Girls | 427 | #681 |
| 2020 | Girls | 396 | #707 |
| 2019 | Girls | 413 | #701 |
| 2018 | Girls | 359 | #759 |
| 2017 | Girls | 365 | #761 |
| 2016 | Girls | 378 | #755 |
| 2015 | Girls | 345 | #812 |
| 2014 | Girls | 337 | #821 |
| 2013 | Girls | 295 | #874 |
| 2012 | Girls | 313 | #852 |
| 2011 | Girls | 278 | #929 |
| 2010 | Girls | 301 | #880 |
| 2009 | Girls | 287 | #930 |
| 2008 | Girls | 292 | #932 |
| 2007 | Girls | 290 | #932 |
| 2006 | Girls | 322 | #834 |
| 2005 | Girls | 319 | #811 |
| 2004 | Girls | 359 | #735 |
| 2003 | Girls | 349 | #732 |
| 2002 | Girls | 402 | #635 |
When Was Lara Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1969 · Girls
1,354 recorded births
National rank #222
1970 · Girls
1,332 recorded births
National rank #235
1968 · Girls
1,295 recorded births
National rank #227
1971 · Girls
1,053 recorded births
National rank #273
Where Lara Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #313 | 18 |
| FL | #329 | 54 |
| CT | #350 | 8 |
| IL | #363 | 28 |
| NY | #388 | 44 |
| WA | #452 | 15 |
| VA | #520 | 15 |
| NJ | #535 | 14 |