The story behind Lara
Anglicized from Russian Ла́ра (Lára), a Russian pet form of Larissa, known from the novel (1957) and film (1965) Dr Zhivago.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
French entry
Recently borrowed from Russian.
German entry
Recently borrowed from Russian Ла́ра (Lára).
Italian entry
Recently borrowed from Russian.
Pronunciation
Received-Pronunciation: /ˈlɑː.ɹə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- French: /la.ʁa/
- German: /ˈlaːʁa/
- Italian: /ˈla.ra/
Popularity
Lara ranked #693 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Lara
Lana
Short form of Alana, or from Russian Ла́на (Lána), diminutive of several names including Светла́на (Svetlána).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Luba
From Slavic * (English-language female given name found in Canada): From Ukrainian Люба (Ljuba)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ilya
From Russian Илья́ (Ilʹjá). Doublet of Elijah.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nila
From Sanskrit नील (nīla, “of a dark colour; blue; black”), Bengali নীলা (nila, “blue”), or related words in other Indian subcontinent languages. From Russian Ни́ла (Níla),…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Olga
Borrowed in the 19th century from Old East Slavic О́льга (Ólĭga), name of a Kievan knyaginya (Saint Olga of Kiev), a medieval form of Helga, Old Norse heilagr (“holy;…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Vera
Borrowed in the nineteenth century from the Russian virtue name Ве́ра (Véra, “faith”). By folk etymology it has also been explained as Latin vera (“true”). Ultimately from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Lara
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Cátia
Borrowed from Russian Ка́тя (Kátja).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Lara
Igor
Transliterated from Russian И́горь (Ígorʹ), a Varangian name derived from Old Norse Yngvarr, Ingvarr, from Yngvi (name of a god) + herr (“army”). Doublet of Ivor, Ihar, and…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ivan
From Russian Ива́н (Iván), and from Ivan in several Slavic languages. Doublet of John and its relatives Evan, Giovanni, Ian, Johann, and Sean, etc. Rare variant of Evan, from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Oleg
Borrowed from Russian Оле́г (Olég), a Varangian name, ultimately from Old Norse Helgi (“holy, sacred or blessed”). Cognate to modern Scandinavian Helge. Borrowed from Russian…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends G
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection