Clara
Clara is a girls' name of Latin origin meaning “bright, clear, illustrious.” It ranked #63 in the United States in 2025. From the Latin clarus meaning bright or famous.
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how do you pronounce Clara?
KLAIR-ah
where does the name Clara come from?
The feminine of the Late Latin Clarus, meaning bright, shining or clear. Several early male Christian saints were called Clarus; the feminine form is post-classical and came into general use later.
Saint Clara of Assisi and Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, are among its most celebrated bearers.
how popular is this name?
Clara has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #7 in 1885, and ranked #63 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #63 |
| 2024 | #78 |
| 2023 | #98 |
| 2022 | #110 |
| 2021 | #102 |
| 2020 | #103 |
| 2019 | #95 |
| 2018 | #103 |
| 2017 | #95 |
| 2016 | #100 |
| 2010 | #167 |
| 2000 | #353 |
| 1990 | #515 |
| 1980 | #511 |
| 1970 | #529 |
| 1960 | #309 |
| 1950 | #178 |
| 1940 | #111 |
| 1930 | #64 |
| 1920 | #44 |
| 1910 | #32 |
| 1900 | #19 |
| 1890 | #9 |
| 1885 | #7 |
| 1880 | #12 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Clara fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Clara
The feminine form became popular after the thirteenth-century Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Francis who gave up a privileged background to found her own order. Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross, was a very different nineteenth-century bearer.
who are famous people named Clara?
- Clara Barton
- Clara Bow
- Clara Schumann
what are the nicknames and variants of Clara?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Clara?
what names go well with Clara?
Sibling names that share Clara's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Clara
What does the name Clara mean?
Clara means “bright, clear, illustrious”.
What is the origin of the name Clara?
Clara comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Claire, Klara and Chiara.
How popular is the name Clara?
Clara ranked #63 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1885, at #7, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Clara a boy or girl name?
Clara is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Clara?
Clara is pronounced KLAIR-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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