Lara is a popular girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #98 in 2024 with 474 recorded births. This places Lara in the top 1% of ranked UK girls' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Popular. The name reached its all-time peak in 2003 with 568 births ranking #91. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 85.9%. In 2024, approximately 1 in every 544 girls born was named Lara. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Lara is a poised, international name with a crisp, elegant sound. Its exact root can vary, but it is most often linked to Larissa or treated as a short independent form in its own right.
The name has had long visibility in Europe and became especially familiar in English-speaking culture through literature and film. That broad exposure helped it feel classic without seeming old-fashioned.