Cara
KAR-uh
A simple, warm name meaning “friend” or, by later Christian association, “charity.”
Meaning
In the excerpted 19th-century source, Cara is glossed as a Celtic word meaning “friend.” The same source also links Cara with Christian naming through Caritas/Charity, suggesting a later devotional association with charity or loving-kindness. In modern use, the name is usually understood as a short, friendly-sounding name with those two overlapping senses.
Origin
GaelicCelticLatinfeminine
Fun fact
In the source, Cara is paired with Caritas/Charity on July 1st in a saints-name calendar.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Girls' Names and Name-Day and Birthday Book.