What does Sienna mean?
From the Italian city of Siena and its russet earth pigment, sienna.
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.
Sienna vs Cara
Which is more popular?
Sienna is more popular than Cara today: about 2,659 US babies were given the name Sienna in 2025, compared with 168 named Cara.
| Sienna | Cara | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Reddish-brown | Beloved, dear |
| Origin | Italian | italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | see-EN-uh | KAH-ruh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1882 |
| Peak year | 2025 (2,659) | 1985 (1,465) |
| In 2025 | 2,659 | 168 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sienna
Cara
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sienna | Cara |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 12,482 | 1,273 |
| 2010s | 14,136 | 3,830 |
| 2000s | 10,685 | 6,034 |
| 1990s | 2,151 | 9,844 |
| 1980s | 305 | 13,277 |
| 1970s | 102 | 10,413 |
| 1960s | 16 | 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 Sienna or Cara more popular?
Sienna is more popular than Cara today: about 2,659 US babies were given the name Sienna in 2025, compared with 168 named Cara.
What is the difference between Sienna and Cara?
Sienna means Reddish-brown (Italian origin), while Cara means Beloved, dear (italian origin).
Which name is older, Sienna or Cara?
In US records, Sienna first appears in 1960 and Cara in 1882, so Cara has the longer recorded history.