Girl name
Lara name meaning
“a short form of Larisa”
Lara is a short form of Larisa, particularly in Russian usage. Larisa itself derives from a Greek place name, giving Lara a connection to both Russian naming practice and Greek geography. Used for girls in Türkiye, the name also recalls Lara in Boris Pasternak's novel Doctor Zhivago.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Lara mean?
A short form of Larisa
In Turkish: Larisa adının kısa biçimi
Lara is a short name with more than one cultural history. The character Lara in Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago provides a literary example connected with Larisa. Roman mythology offers a separate association, while the place called Lara in Antalya does not by itself establish the personal name’s meaning.
The ending “-ra” is a shared final sound rather than a meaningful suffix in Zehra, Azra and Esra. Their meanings come from the whole name, not the final two letters. More girl names ending in -ra →
How popular is Lara?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 12provinces
Where is Lara in the top 30?
12 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Origin of the name Lara
Lara is notably a Russian short form of Larisa, which comes from a Greek place name. An independent Lara also appears in Roman mythology, so individual uses in Türkiye need not share one source.
| Linguistic origin | European languages, Greek |
|---|---|
| Is Lara in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | L · La |
Double names with Lara
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Lara Şennur
Meaning of each name
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
- Şennur: joyful light, brightness bringing happiness
-
Sahra Lara
Meaning of each name
- Sahra: desert; wide open terrain
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
-
Lara Elifnaz
Meaning of each name
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
- Elifnaz: the letter alif; coyness, delicate charm
-
Nora Lara
Meaning of each name
- Nora: Honour, esteem
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
-
Lara Gaye
Meaning of each name
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
- Gaye: an intended aim or goal
-
Remziye Lara
Meaning of each name
- Remziye: symbolic; associated with a sign or symbol
- Lara: a short form of Larisa
How to pronounce Lara
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /laɾa/ |
Is Lara a girl’s name?
Yes, Lara is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Lara appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Lara
Famous people named Lara
- Lara Sanders · b. 1986
- Lara Ömeroğlu · b. 1993
- Lara · b. 1979
- Lara Nalbantoğlu · b. 2001
- Lara Domaç · b. 1999
- Lara Surol · b. 1985
- Lara Aslan · b. 2004
- Lara Micooğulları · b. 2000
- Lara Savaş
FAQ about the name Lara
What is the meaning of Lara?
Lara means “a short form of Larisa”. Lara is notably a Russian short form of Larisa, which comes from a Greek place name. An independent Lara also appears in Roman mythology, so individual uses in Türkiye need not share one source.
Is Lara a girl’s name?
Yes, Lara is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Lara in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Lara nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Lara?
Lara is of European languages and Greek origin.
How many syllables does Lara have?
Lara has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Lara?
Lara appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Lara?
Some ideas: Lara Şennur; Sahra Lara; Lara Elifnaz.
Famous people named Lara?
Notable people named Lara include Lara Sanders, Lara Ömeroğlu, Lara.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00851 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake