Caira
A girl's name of Irish origin with 882 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
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Caira is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, a variant of Keira or Ciara — from the Irish Gaelic Ciarán, meaning 'dark one' or 'black,' from ciar (dark, black). Saint Ciara of Kilkeary was a 6th-century Irish abbess, giving the name early Christian heritage.
The spelling Caira gives this Irish classic a Mediterranean warmth, evoking Cairo as well as its Gaelic roots. Actress Keira Knightley's fame has made all spellings of this name more visible, giving Caira contemporary celebrity resonance alongside its ancient Irish roots.
EtymologyShow more
Caira appeared in SSA records in 1977, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Irish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Caira’s 882 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Caira was #3757 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6190, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 84 | #6780 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 165 | #7512 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 304 | #4645 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 248 | #4381 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 71 | #7884 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 10 | #9872 | — |
The Story of Caira
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2005, Caira is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Caira are most likely born between 1995 and 2015.
How rare is Caira?
Only about 1 in every 189,474 babies born in 2024 was named Caira — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1977, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 304 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Caira by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Caira per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(45 years, 1977–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | #6190 |
| 2023 | 16 | #6980 |
| 2022 | 15 | #7342 |
| 2021 | 16 | #7015 |
| 2020 | 18 | #6375 |
| 2019 | 17 | #6766 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7458 |
| 2017 | 16 | #7153 |
| 2016 | 8 | #11991 |
| 2015 | 17 | #7034 |
| 2014 | 12 | #9084 |
| 2013 | 19 | #6518 |
| 2012 | 19 | #6650 |
| 2011 | 23 | #5767 |
| 2010 | 19 | #6699 |
| 2009 | 20 | #6608 |
| 2008 | 24 | #5795 |
| 2007 | 28 | #5122 |
| 2006 | 28 | #4978 |
| 2005 | 40 | #3662 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caira a boy's or girl's name?
When was Caira most popular?
How popular is the name Caira?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1977–2024