Kerra is of Irish origin, derived from the Irish name Ciar, which means "dark-haired" or "black". It is considered a modern adaptation of the Irish given name Ciara. The name gained popularity in recent years as an alternative spelling to Ciara, offering a unique twist while still maintaining its Irish roots and meaning. Kerra can also be found among Welsh baby names, where it may derive from the Welsh word 'cerdd', meaning 'poetry'. In some cases, Kerra might also be considered a variant of the English name Kara, which means 'beloved'.
The name Kerra experienced significant popularity from the mid-70s to the late 80s, with its peak occurring in 1974 (26 births) and 1975 (34 births). This trend continued into the early 90s but began declining thereafter. Between 2010 and 2019, Kerra's popularity resurged slightly, with around 6 births per year. Overall, there have been a total of 1149 births named Kerra since 1956.