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