Claire
Claire is a girls' name of French origin meaning “bright, clear, famous.” It ranked #68 in the United States in 2025. The French form of Clara, from the Latin clarus meaning bright or famous.
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how do you pronounce Claire?
KLAIR
where does the name Claire come from?
From the Latin clarus, meaning bright, clear or famous, by way of the French. The English variant Clara keeps the Latin ending, while Claire is the French form — the two are the same name at different stages of the same descent.
Saint Clare of Assisi founded the Order of Poor Ladies in the 13th century.
how popular is this name?
Claire has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #40 in 2016, and ranked #68 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #68 |
| 2024 | #67 |
| 2023 | #68 |
| 2022 | #66 |
| 2021 | #59 |
| 2020 | #58 |
| 2019 | #55 |
| 2018 | #50 |
| 2017 | #49 |
| 2016 | #40 |
| 2010 | #53 |
| 2000 | #86 |
| 1990 | #158 |
| 1980 | #401 |
| 1970 | #547 |
| 1960 | #315 |
| 1950 | #234 |
| 1940 | #194 |
| 1930 | #136 |
| 1920 | #194 |
| 1910 | #233 |
| 1900 | #262 |
| 1890 | #291 |
| 1880 | #352 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Claire fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Claire
St Clare of Assisi, who died in 1253, founded the order still known as the Poor Clares after being drawn to Francis of Assisi's preaching. She was later named patron of television, on the reasoning that she had once seen a distant Mass on the wall of her room while too ill to attend. The name has been in steady English use since the nineteenth century.
who are famous people named Claire?
- Claire Danes
- Claire Foy
what are the nicknames and variants of Claire?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Claire?
what names go well with Claire?
Sibling names that share Claire's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Claire
What does the name Claire mean?
Claire means “bright, clear, famous”.
What is the origin of the name Claire?
Claire comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Clara, Clare and Klara.
How popular is the name Claire?
Claire ranked #68 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2016, at #40, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Claire a boy or girl name?
Claire is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Claire?
Claire is pronounced KLAIR, with 1 syllable.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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