Meaning
A name that means something.
CFrom Latin clarus, "bright, clear, distinguished." St. Clare of Assisi (13th c.), the early follower of St. Francis, anchored the name across Catholic Europe and beyond.
A name from Latin · Girl
Clara
From Latin clarus, "bright, clear, distinguished." St. Clare of Assisi (13th c.), the early follower of St. Francis, anchored the name across Catholic Europe and beyond.
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Popularity over time
293,851 U.S. births recorded
from 1880–2023.
A 143-year arc in numbers.
Popularity · 1880–2023
2,662 births in 2023
1880 1951 2023
Babies named per year Peak year Most recent
Variants & spellings
Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint. 3 ways to spell "Clara".
Related guides
Read more in the Almanac.
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Quick answers
People often ask about Clara.
- What does the name Clara mean?
- Clara means from Latin clarus, "bright, clear, distinguished." St. Clare of Assisi (13th c.), the early follower of St. Francis, anchored the name across Catholic Europe and beyond.
- Where does the name Clara come from?
- Clara is a girl name of Latin origin.
- Is Clara a boy or a girl name?
- Clara is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Clara are girls and 0% are boys.
- How popular is the name Clara in 2023?
- Clara ranks #98 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1918 with 5,800 babies.
- How do you pronounce Clara?
- Clara is pronounced KLAR-ah (2 syllables).
- What are common spellings of Clara?
- Clara is also written as Klara, Claire, Clare.
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About this page
Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.