Lara - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Lara \l(a)-ra\ is pronounced LAR-ah. It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "protection". From "Lares", referring to the individual gods of Roman households, the protectors of home and fields. Also possibly (Latin) "cheerful; famous". It may also be traced to the Greek Larissa. Lara is popular in Russia; it is also a Spanish surname and place name. Literary: name of a central character in Boris Pasternak's novel "Doctor Zhivago". Actress Lara Flynn Boyle.

Lara has 6 variant forms: Laralaine, Laramae, Larina, Larinda, Larita and Larra.

For more information, see also the related name Lala.

Baby names that sound like Lara are Laray, Larae, Lari, Laura, Lora, Lawra, Larea, Lura and Lyra.

Lara is a very popular female first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Lara. Click here to compare Lara with related baby names.