Caragh
Say it: KAR-a
GirlIrishMeans often linked to cara, "friend"6 letters2 syllables
#80
in Ireland (2025)
#84 with spellings combined
61
babies in 2025
#84
best rank (2025)
774
babies since 1971
Up 180
10-year rank change
Caragh through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | #84 |
| 2024 | 48 | #97 |
| 2023 | 47 | #108 |
| 2022 | 47 | #113 |
| 2021 | 40 | #131 |
| 2020 | 38 | #132 |
| 2019 | 30 | #170 |
| 2018 | 25 | #198 |
| 2017 | 23 | #219 |
| 2016 | 27 | #187 |
| 2015 | 19 | #264 |
| 2014 | 22 | #229 |
| 2013 | 20 | #255 |
| 2012 | 24 | #225 |
| 2011 | 19 | #266 |
| 2010 | 22 | #245 |
| 2009 | 24 | #224 |
| 2008 | 23 | #237 |
| 2007 | 22 | #222 |
| 2006 | 25 | #186 |
| 2005 | 7 | #424 |
| 2004 | 16 | #235 |
| 2003 | 19 | #200 |
| 2002 | 14 | #254 |
| 2001 | 7 | #369 |
| 1999 | 8 | #295 |
| 1997 | 3 | #576 |
| 1995 | 4 | #451 |
| 1993 | 4 | #448 |
| 1988 | 5 | #407 |
| 1986 | 5 | #422 |
| 1985 | 4 | #456 |
| 1983 | 5 | #438 |
| 1982 | 6 | #399 |
| 1980 | 5 | #432 |
| 1979 | 6 | #391 |
| 1978 | 3 | #522 |
| 1977 | 6 | #391 |
| 1976 | 5 | #392 |
| 1975 | 5 | #406 |
| 1974 | 17 | #245 |
| 1973 | 8 | #331 |
| 1972 | 3 | #471 |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Caragh mean?
Often linked to cara, "friend"
Irish-style spelling usually connected with Cara and the Irish word cara (friend); also a place name.
Say it right
KARa
It is said the same way as Cara. The "gh" is silent.
The story of Caragh
Caragh has no single agreed origin. It is usually treated as a form of Cara, which is linked to the Irish word cara, “friend”. The added “gh” gives it the look of names such as Clodagh and Darragh without changing the sound.
The spelling is also found on the map. Lough Caragh and the River Caragh in Kerry are Loch Cárthaí and Abhainn Chárthaí in Irish, and the Kildare village of Caragh, also spelled Carragh, is Ceárach. Those Irish forms are not the word cara, so the places share the spelling rather than the meaning.
In Ireland Caragh first reached the list in 1971 and stayed rare for decades. It has risen in rank every year since 2019, and 2025 was its best year yet, with 61 girls and number 80 on the CSO list. It is much less common in Northern Ireland, where it was 205th in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Cara (given name)
- Logainm.ie: Loch Cárthaí / Lough Caragh (Kerry)
- Logainm.ie: Ceárach / Carragh (Kildare)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Caragh | 61 | 774 |
In Northern Ireland
#205 in 2025 with 8 babies. Best rank #119 (2019); 309 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.