Lara

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Lara

Gender: Feminine
Language: Russian, English, Icelandic
Etymology:
Lara is either:
1. Short for Larissa, a Slavic name, the name of an Orthodox Crimean martyr.
-or-
2. A Slavic form of Laura. Laura is the feminine form of the name Laurus, which means “Laurel Tree” (Bay tree).
-or-
3. Lára is an Icelandic form of the name Laura.
-or-
4. Lara is a name of a nymph in Roman mythology, daughter of the River Almon and mother of the Lares.

History:
Originally, Lara was a Russian name.

In the United States, Lara experienced a rise in 1965 when a film version of Boris Pasternak’s Nobel-winning 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago came out. It featured actress Julie Christie as “Lara” and a popular bit of music entitled “Lara’s Theme”

When Lara appeared in the U.S. prior to the 1960s, it was probably just used as a simple variant of the name Laura.

Pronunciation: lahr-ah.

Famous Bearers:
Fictional Characters:
Lara Antipova (1957)
From Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel, Doctor Zhivago.
Lara Croft
Heroine of a popular video game.

Singers and Entertainers:
Lara Flynn Boyle (1970-)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.016 % named Lara

Popularity of Lara:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 833rd most popular.
1875: 669th most popular.
1880-1965: N/A
1965: N/A - The film Dr. Zhivago is released to much acclaim.
1966: 616th most popular.
1967: 277th most popular.
1968: 227th most popular.
1969: 222nd most popular. - Peak!
1970: 235th most popular.
1971: 273rd most popular.
1972: 297th most popular.
1973: 334th most popular.
1974: 359th most popular.
1975: 344th most popular.
1976: 294th most popular.
1977: 342nd most popular.
1978: 377th most popular.
1979: 420th most popular.
1980: 394th most popular.
1981: 386th most popular.
1982: 370th most popular.
1983: 425th most popular.
1984: 422nd most popular.
1985: 449th most popular.
1986: 410th most popular.
1987: 413th most popular.
1988: 418th most popular.
1989: 493rd most popular.
1990: 544th most popular.
1991: 596th most popular.
1992: 602nd most popular.
1993: 705th most popular.
1994: 684th most popular.
1995: 721st most popular.
1996: 715th most popular.
1997: 762nd most popular.
1998: 812th most popular.
1999: 786th most popular.
2000: 844th most popular.
2001: 689th most popular.
2002: 584th most popular.
2003: 684th most popular.
2004: 733rd most popular.

In France...
1900-1990: N/A
1998: 164th most popular.
2000: 132nd most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Friedman, 1995
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org
Meilleurs Prenoms (http://www.meilleursprenoms.com/) for French stats.