Lara
2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Greek / Russian / Slovenian ◈ 2 syllables
"Woman From Citadel"

From Greek / Russian / Slovenian

Lara means protection or citadel — from the Latin lares (household gods) or the Greek. Doctor Zhivago's Lara is one of cinema's most romantic characters — Lara's Theme is one of the most recognisable melodies ever composed. Lara Croft is gaming's most iconic female character. Four letters of Zhivago romance, Tomb Raider adventure, and the most beautiful balalaika melody.

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Lara at a glance
MeaningWoman From Citadel
OriginGreek / Russian / Slovenian
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 5
US Rank (today)#735
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Why parents love Lara
  • Doctor Zhivago's Lara is one of cinema's most romantic characters.
  • Lara Croft is gaming's most iconic female character.
  • Four letters with a bright, open sound: LAR-ah.
  • Lara's Theme is one of the most recognisable melodies.
  • The meaning protection/citadel carries strength.
The vibe of Lara
protectioncitadelZhivagoLara's ThemeCroftTomb Raiderbalalaikaromantic
Origin & history of Lara
Latin lares (household gods) or Russian short form of Larisa Lara
1
Greek / Russian / Slovenian roots
Lara comes from the Latin lares (household gods) or is a Russian short form of Larisa. Doctor Zhivago's Lara is one of cinema's most romantic characters. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider, 1996) is gaming's most iconic female character.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Russian form; Doctor Zhivago (1957/1965); Tomb Raider (1996).
3
Today
Lara remains a beloved choice, ranking #735 in the US. 29,789 babies have been named Lara since 1887.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
How popular is Lara?
1969 peak year
Lara entered U.S. records in 1887, near the turn of the 20th century. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 1969, 1,354 babies received the name (ranked #223). Today it sits around #735, with roughly 387 babies named Lara each year. Lara's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 29,789 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,354 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #223)
387 Avg. per year
(last decade)
3,870 Total registrations
last 10 years
29,789 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #735) Popular
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Lara
5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.

Lara's Life Path 7 is the seeker's number — Zhivago-level seeking. People named Lara tend to be romantic, adventurous, and gifted at raiding tombs while a balalaika plays.

Raids tombs with balalaika playing
Zhivago-level romance
Croft-level adventure
Household-god protection
Most recognisable melody
L3
A1
R9
A1
Sum: 14 → Life path 5
Personality of Lara
🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
💬
Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
Names that sound like Lara

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Names that combine with Lara

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Lara.

Middle names for Lara

The right middle name turns Lara into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Lara is a beautiful choice.
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