UK girl's name
Carah
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly relating to the English word "cara" meaning "dear".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Carah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Carah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2015. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Carah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Carah ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 girls were registered as Carah.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Carah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Carah mean?
The name Carah originated from the Hebrew language and culture, emerging during the ancient times of the Old Testament period. It is derived from the Hebrew word "qara," which means "to call" or "to summon." The name Carah was primarily used within the Jewish community, often carrying a spiritual connotation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carah can be found in the Book of Genesis, where it is mentioned as the name of Abraham's concubine, who bore him a son named Ishmael. This biblical reference dates back to around the 18th century BCE, indicating the antiquity of the name's usage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Carah. One such figure was Carah bat Nachshon, a prominent Jewish scholar and teacher who lived in the 2nd century CE. She was renowned for her extensive knowledge of Jewish law and her contributions to the study of the Talmud.
Another historical figure with the name Carah was Carah bat Beruria, a 2nd-century CE Jewish woman celebrated for her wisdom and keen intellect. She was the daughter of the renowned scholar Rabbi Meir and is mentioned in the Talmud for her insightful teachings and her role in preserving Jewish traditions.
In the 10th century CE, Carah bat Yitzhak was a notable Jewish poet and scholar from Speyer, Germany. Her poetic works, which often explored themes of faith and spirituality, were highly regarded during her time and have been preserved in various anthologies.
During the 12th century, Carah bat Meshullam was a distinguished Jewish scholar and writer from Provence, France. She was recognized for her expertise in biblical exegesis and her contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism, particularly within the Kabbalistic tradition.
In the 16th century, Carah Shamah was a prominent Jewish businesswoman and philanthropist from Istanbul, Ottoman Empire. She played a significant role in supporting the local Jewish community and was renowned for her generosity and commitment to charitable causes.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Carah, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and the diverse contexts in which it was used across different eras and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Carah over time
The chart below shows babies named Carah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Carah, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Carah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5209 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Carah
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Carah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Carah in the UK right now?
In 2015, Carah was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Carah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Carah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Carah?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly relating to the English word "cara" meaning "dear".
How many people are called Carah in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Carah across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.