View Message

Cara is a name here, and as you say it is the Irish word for friend. Official letters often (even in English) start "A chara", instead of "Dear". It is also one of the first Irish words kids learn in school.

---

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/Cara

---

It was 30 in 2020. https://www.cso.ie/en/interactivezone/visualisationtools/babynamesofireland/

---

I can think of one Cara, and a Kara off the top of my head (her mother said Kara was named for the Italian word though. ) I have seen the spelling Caragh too.