Lara

Lara is a girl's name of Italian origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 379 girls in the United States.

Lara at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Italian
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈlɑː.ɹə/
Also spelled
Larissa

About the name Lara

Lara belongs to the Italian tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess. It travels in a few spellings: Larissa.

In the United States, Lara first appears in Social Security records in 1887. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #223 in 1969, and in 2024 379 babies received the name — 29,755 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Lara in US records

First recorded (US)
1887
Best US rank
#223 in 1969
Peak year
1969
Babies named Lara in 2024
379
Total since 1880
29,755

Spellings & short forms

Similar names

More names from the Italian shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Lara mean?

The meaning of Lara is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Italian origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Lara a boy or girl name?

Lara is a girl name. In 2024, 379 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Lara?

Lara comes from the Italian tradition. It is also spelled Larissa.

How popular is the name Lara?

Lara first appears in US records in 1887. Its best-ever ranking was #223 in 1969, and 379 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Lara?

Lara is pronounced /ˈlɑː.ɹə/ (IPA).

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.