What does Alessia mean?
Alessia is an Italian name meaning “defender,” related to Alexander.
What does Cara mean?
From the Italian and Latin cara, feminine of caro/carus 'dear, beloved'. A direct term of endearment pressed into use as a given name.
Alessia vs Cara
Which is more popular?
Alessia is more popular than Cara today: about 937 US babies were given the name Alessia in 2025, compared with 168 named Cara.
| Alessia | Cara | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender | Beloved, dear |
| Origin | Italian | italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ah-LES-see-ah | KAH-ruh |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1967 | 1882 |
| Peak year | 2024 (1,122) | 1985 (1,465) |
| In 2025 | 937 | 168 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alessia
Cara
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alessia | Cara |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,302 | 1,273 |
| 2010s | 3,080 | 3,830 |
| 2000s | 1,206 | 6,034 |
| 1990s | 422 | 9,844 |
| 1980s | 140 | 13,277 |
| 1970s | 20 | 10,413 |
| 1960s | 9 | 5,779 |
| 1950s | 0 | 1,291 |
| 1940s | 0 | 492 |
| 1930s | 0 | 305 |
| 1920s | 0 | 281 |
| 1910s | 0 | 219 |
| 1900s | 0 | 113 |
| 1890s | 0 | 91 |
| 1880s | 0 | 63 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alessia or Cara more popular?
Alessia is more popular than Cara today: about 937 US babies were given the name Alessia in 2025, compared with 168 named Cara.
What is the difference between Alessia and Cara?
Alessia means Defender (Italian origin), while Cara means Beloved, dear (italian origin).
Which name is older, Alessia or Cara?
In US records, Alessia first appears in 1967 and Cara in 1882, so Cara has the longer recorded history.