Girl Name · Russian Origin
Lara
Lara is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a girl's name of Russian origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Lara — a girl name from the Russian tradition — is an uncommon, standout choice. If Laura is on your shortlist, Lara belongs in the same conversation.
Lara meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Lara has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Russian naming roots help connect Lara to related Russian baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Lara as L·A·R·A, with 4 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Lara is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Lara variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Laraa, Larae, Laray, Lar.
- Nicknames: Lara works as its own nickname.
- Middle names: Pair Lara with a middle name that balances its short sound; start with the Lara middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Laura, Lora, Lura, Lyra, Lera — full picks on the sibling names for Lara guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Lara? Browse our names like Lara guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Lara
What does the name Lara mean?
Lara has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Lara?
Lara originates in Russian naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Lara?
Lara has 4 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Lara a boy's or girl's name?
Lara is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Lara in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Lara sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Lara?
Names that share Lara's sound and style include Laura, Lora, Lura, Lyra, Lera.
What middle names pair well with Lara?
Good middle-name fits for Lara pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Lara is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Lara is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Lara?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Lara share its rhythm without rhyming — Laura, Lora, Lura all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.