Cariad
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Cariad is a Welsh name meaning “love”. It is a uncommon name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.66% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Cariad
Cariad is a profoundly affectionate and beautiful name of Welsh origin. It directly translates to "love" or "darling" in the Welsh language. This name is not only used as a term of endearment in Wales but has also become a cherished given name, celebrated for its warm and tender meaning. Choosing Cariad for a child is a direct expression of deep affection and a wish for them to be surrounded by love. It’s a name that resonates with warmth, intimacy, and a special connection to Welsh culture.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Cariad
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Cariad is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.66% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by a large number of recorded bearers.
Popularity of the Name Cariad
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Cariad is listed under Uncommon Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity varies considerably across the available regional markets, with the strongest usage in United Kingdom.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Common | 1 in every 145K births |
| Canada | Rare | 1 in every 5.08M births |
| Australia | — | — |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Cariad ranked #7,207 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). This year the name appears in the official list for this region after being absent in the prior official year. Newly recorded in the latest official lists, Cariad shows early signs of usage.
Historically, its best recorded position was #3,443 in 1998. Its lowest recorded position was #9,870 in 2021. Over the last 7 years (2018–2025) the name fell -2955 places (from #4,252 to #7,207).
Characteristics of the Name Cariad
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- Namedary
- Syllables
- 3 syllables — Three-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 6 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- C — Girl Names Starting with C
- Ends with
- d — Girl Names Ending in “d”
Name AestheticMethodology
Cariad consists of a three-syllable, rhythmic cadence that ends with a soft consonant snap. While it has historical linguistic usage, it is not tied to a singular prominent cultural figure. The warm, rounded phonetic quality provides a Beautiful & Charming aesthetic.
Middle Names For Cariad
Middle name suggestions for CariadMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Cariad is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “l”.
Examples: Cariad Leigh · Cariad Lynne · Cariad Lynch · Cariad Laine · Cariad Leach. View all 82 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Cariad
Sound Like Cariad Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Greta · Gretta · Croiadh · View all 30 names
Spelled Like Cariad Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Caria
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Karen · Kimberly · Carol · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Cariad Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Mildred · Jade · Gertrude · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Jennifer · Barbara · Margaret · View all Top 100 names
More Info
How to Spell Cariad in ASL
- C
- a
- r
- i
- a
- d
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