Lara is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #740 in 2024 with 379 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2021 with 426 births ranking #682. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 39.9%. In 2024, approximately 1 in every 4,256 girls born was named Lara. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
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.