Let's Talk About Cara!

Girl Names
1

I’ve been really loving [name_f]Cara[/name_f] lately, but I have some questions for you lovely ladies. :slight_smile:

  1. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_f]Cara[/name_f]? CARE-ah or CAH-rah?
  2. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you prefer it as a nn, or as the full name? My problem is that I always seem to find something wrong with just [name_f]Cara[/name_f], or with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], or with [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]… Is there anything else that’s fairly intuitive that [name_f]Cara[/name_f] could be a nn for?
  3. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Cara[/name_f] works well on my list? ([name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Arianne[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]/[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]/[name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Grayson[/name_m], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], [name_m]Zane[/name_m], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_m]Brody[/name_m], [name_m]Grant[/name_m]) Or [fullname] nn [name_f]Cara[/name_f], at least?
  4. Any combo ideas for whichever form you like best? So far, I’ve tossed around [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] ____ and [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] ____, but I’m not really in love with either…

Thanks, ladies!

2

I think that [name_f]Cara[/name_f] (which I say like CAHR-uh) could be a nickname for [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] on your list. I also love [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], and think that [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] would be nice, but I’m not sure whether that would exclude a family name from the combination etc. so feel free to ignore that suggestion.

3

Or even as a nickname for [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] or [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] at a stretch? I might be pushing it here… :slight_smile:

4

Cara (which I too pronounce “CAHR-ah”) is great. Grounded but pretty, right in the sweet spot. Personally I like it best as a full name, but I could see it as a nn for Chiara as well as all the Carolyn/Caroline names. I think it fits well with the rest of your list, too.

5

I say something between cahr-ah and ca (like in cat) rah.

I think it would be pretty as a nn for [name_f]Carina[/name_f] or [name_f]Chiara[/name_f].

Combos aren’t really my specialty, but I do think it fits with your other girls’ names.

6

1. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_f]Cara[/name_f]? CARE-ah or CAH-rah? My instinct is to say CARE-uh, but I know several Caras and half of them prefer CAHR-uh. It doesn’t make much of a difference to me, honestly. It’s one of those names that is so familiar to me that it fades away.

2. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you prefer it as a nn, or as the full name? My problem is that I always seem to find something wrong with just [name_f]Cara[/name_f], or with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], or with [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]… Is there anything else that’s fairly intuitive that [name_f]Cara[/name_f] could be a nn for? I agree with others that [name_f]Carina[/name_f] could also work as a “full” name to get to the nn [name_f]Cara[/name_f], but I really see it as standing on its own - and none of the Caras I know are nicknames, their first names are just [name_f]Cara[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Carina[/name_f] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carolina[/name_f] are so beautiful, I probably wouldn’t purposefully nickname them.

3. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Cara[/name_f] works well on my list? ([name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Arianne[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]/[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]/[name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Grayson[/name_m], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_m]Boaz[/name_m], [name_m]Zane[/name_m], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_m]Brody[/name_m], [name_m]Grant[/name_m]) Or [fullname] nn [name_f]Cara[/name_f], at least? I think [name_f]Cara[/name_f] works well with: [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], and [name_m]Brody[/name_m]. All of those seem very familiar and late 80s/early 90s to me, as I know at least two people with all of those names that were born within a decade of me. Good names, solid, but I think [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] or [name_f]Carina[/name_f] would feel better with your other names - they’re a little more romantic, and fresher to my ears.

4. Any combo ideas for whichever form you like best? So far, I’ve tossed around [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] ____ and [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] ____, but I’m not really in love with either… I like [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Carina[/name_f] [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], and [name_f]Carina[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f].

7

On seeing it I intuitively first think CAR-uh, but every [name_f]Cara[/name_f] I’ve known pronounced it CARE-uh so I’m getting used to that.

It seems like a fine full name to me. I have a philosophy teacher named [name_f]Cara[/name_f]. It’s never seemed like a nickname to me. [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] or [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] would make a good full name for it, though.

I think it works. The pairings I think work really well from your list (ones I really like are bolded) are: [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Zane[/name_m], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Brody[/name_m], [name_f]Cara[/name_f] and [name_m]Grant[/name_m]. So most of them. [name_f]IMO[/name_f] [name_f]Arianne[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and [name_u]Avery[/name_u] are too similar, [name_m]Grayson[/name_m] and [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] [name_m]FEEL[/name_m] a bit too similar but would probably work fine, and [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] and [name_m]Boaz[/name_m] seem a bit mismatched (and [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] is too similar).

I quite like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] _ and [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] _. Is the _ for a last name or a second middle? [name_u]Wren[/name_u] would fit lovely as a second middle for either - [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] or [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u].
Some other thoughts are:
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Zenobia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Liliosa[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Liliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Elaina[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Marin[/name_f]
Cara Vivian

8

My name is [name_f]Kara[/name_f], I pronounce it as Care-uh, but some pronounce it as Car-uh. I hate the “Car-Uh” pronunciation personally, so I always correct people to use the “Care-Uh” pronunciation.

I’m biased and would love to see the name as a stand alone by itself, but it could be a nickname for [name_f]Karrie[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Carina[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] if you want.

[name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Coralie[/name_f] seems like a good combo to me, and the two C names opens you up to use “[name_f]CeCe[/name_f]” as a nickname.

9
  1. I say CAH-rah
  2. I like Car on it’s own, just like [name_f]Sara[/name_f]/[name_f]Zara[/name_f]/[name_f]Mara[/name_f]/[name_f]Tara[/name_f] etc all prn like above
  3. I think [name_f]Cara[/name_f] works well with your boys names and [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] esp
  4. [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]?
10

I would pronounce it Cah-ruh. I have never heard of any one pronouncing it Care-uh.

Cah-ruh is the most attractive pronounciation. I think it stands alone as a good name.

I like the name [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] too (but pronounced [name_u]Caro[/name_u]-lean-ah)

11

My daughter is [name_f]Carina[/name_f] nn [name_f]Cara[/name_f]. It could also be short for [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], [name_f]Catrina[/name_f]. I like to pay attention to the meaning of names, so since [name_f]Cara[/name_f] means loved, or little darling, etc., I would choose a middle that would read: Darling ___. I think it’s great with your other names, those are also many of my favorites!

12

Thanks, everyone! I feel like it really depends on where everyone’s from–I’ve only ever heard one American say CAR-ah/CAH-rah/CAHR-ah, and yet CAH-rah seems to be more prevalent everywhere else. I feel like it would be an uphill battle to pronounce it CAH-rah? I recently got into the TV show The Tomorrow People, and the [name_f]Cara[/name_f] in that pronounces it CAH-rah, not CARE-ah. On the other hand, one big bonus is that my mom’s name is [name_f]Karen[/name_f] (KARE-en), so I like that the CARE-ah pronunciation sounds so close to that. It could be a way to honor her.

I think if I went for [name_f]Cara[/name_f], I would use either [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carolina[/name_f] over [name_f]Carina[/name_f]/[name_f]Catriona[/name_f]/[name_f]Katrina[/name_f]/[name_f]Chiara[/name_f]… (ciottolo–I totally thought of [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] as soon as I posted! I think it’d be too much of a leap for the people I know, though, and I don’t want to give up the idea of a little [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] or [name_f]Lola[/name_f]!) I do like just [name_f]Cara[/name_f], but I feel like it’s really hard to pair up. The only combo I have found that I semi-like is [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]. I do like [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], and I think [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Cara[/name_f] are beautiful together… I just feel like [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]'s a bit filler. Which is why I usually lean toward [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carolina[/name_f], because I find them easier to pair up.

With [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], I often think of the states (even though I pronounce it care-oh-lee-nah, as opposed to how the states are said!), and it seems quite exotic to me. I’m not a huge fan of exotic, haha. And I always think of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] Bingley with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], and she’s not the best [name_u]Austen[/name_u] tie to have, honestly. I wish I could unsee that, but I can’t seem to!

@ciottolo - [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is nice! [name_f]Cara[/name_f] already has ties to my mom (and even my sister and grandmother, since [name_f]Cara[/name_f] is rumored to mean “friend” (in Irish? I heard it somewhere, anyway!), and that’s what my grandmother’s FN means, as well as my little sister’s MN), so it’s not really messing with my family names, haha. I had thought of maybe doing [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Fleur[/name_f], though, [name_f]Fleur[/name_f] for a dear friend of mine who has passed, or [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] (it’s just all around sweet and sort of seems Christmasy! Plus, my sister has a [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] name, so I like the tie to [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] and joy. :)).

If you heard [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] or [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], what sort of little girl would you expect to meet? I feel like I’ve recently attached it to these really strong images lately, when I used to [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] them before, and these images are what are holding me back.

I just discovered there’s an American Girl doll named [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], too… I’m sure a little girl would get a kick out of that?

13

[name_f]Cara[/name_f] is great. I love how its Gaelic meaning is “friend”. I like it just fine on its own, I don’t think it needs a longer version. I think its lovely with some of your favourites, particularly [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and [name_f]Rachel[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is lovely.

14

I adore [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and I love [name_f]Mara[/name_f] & [name_f]Zara[/name_f] (and to a lesser extent [name_f]Lara[/name_f]) but oddly, I just can’t like [name_f]Cara[/name_f]. I’ve tried!

15
  1. I pronounce it CARE-uh. That’s the only way I’ve ever heard it pronounced.
  2. I think it works either way. I’d probably use it as a name on its own.
  3. [name_f]Cara[/name_f] works wonderfully with your list.
  4. [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] sounds nice.
16

I pronounce it Care-uh. It’s my aunt’s name and I really like it!

17

[name_f]Cara[/name_f] is on our short list of girls names

we pronounce it Care-ah

i think its beautiful on its own, but [name_f]Carina[/name_f], [name_f]Carissa[/name_f], or Carabella are other options

We plan on using the name [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f].

18

In the US, I would assume CARE-ah. I believe most people here will say it that way whether that’s right or not!

I prefer [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], and really like your [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] combo. Not in love with [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]–I don’t think I would pause to think ‘what a pretty name’ if I met her.

19

Awwh, no, you can’t give up on a little [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] or [name_f]Lola[/name_f]! I do like [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], but I know what you mean about frilly (and that’s ironic seeing as [name_f]Elisabet[/name_f] is in my top three girls’ names… Eh, the ‘-et’ ending spunks it up, obviously :wink: ) Oh, [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Fleur[/name_f] or [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] ([name_u]Christmas[/name_u], eee!) would be so lovely, and I do like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] more than [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], especially with your other names. Hmm, a [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] would have dark, curly hair and wear denim dungarees a lot. She would be a bit of a tomboy, I think, and I imagine her as someone who would fiercely defend her friends if they needed her. An adult [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is calm but fiery. Not sure where I’m getting all of this from, but we’ll go with it, haha. Bah, let’s not dwell on [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] Bingley. She didn’t have two lovely (ooh, and did I mention CHRISTMASSY?) middle names and was jealous on that account, which is why she behaves so rudely :wink: cough I just rewrote one of [name_u]Austen[/name_u]'s classics in a single sentence and I’m not ashamed.

20

Message me your email and I will be thrilled to show you just how I picture a one week old, [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] :slight_smile: I must say, she is pretty cute :wink: I really like [name_f]Cara[/name_f], it is sweet and approachable, but I prefer it as a nickname… I think you could get to cara as a nn with many names, obviously [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] stands out.