Rising since 1985, #1,065 for girls today.
Popularity of Chiara since 1951
Babies named Chiara per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 81 |
| 1970s | 284 |
| 1980s | 427 |
| 1990s | 838 |
| 2000s | 1,721 |
| 2010s | 1,359 |
| 2020s | 1,203 |
Meaning & origin
Chiara is a name that has been in consistent use in Italy for centuries, but its rise in the United States is a more recent phenomenon. First recorded in the U.S. in 1951, the name saw a slow but steady increase in popularity, with a notable upward trajectory beginning in 1985. In 2025, it reached its highest rank yet at 1065, with approximately 1 in 7049 newborn girls receiving the name. This growth reflects a broader trend of Italian names finding favor among American parents. Geographically, Chiara is most popular in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, states with significant Italian-American communities. The name's soft, melodic sound and association with Saint Clare of Assisi give it a timeless yet fresh feel.
Chiara is the Italian feminine form of the Latin name Clara, derived from the adjective 'clarus' meaning clear, bright, or famous. The name became prominent in medieval Italy through Saint Clare of Assisi (born Chiara Offreduccio), a 13th-century follower of Saint Francis. It has been a classic Italian name and gained international recognition in the 20th century, remaining consistently popular in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities.
Where Chiara is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Chiara” around the world
Where Chiara lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
315
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
Quebec
17
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Chiari, Chia, Rina
Sibling names for Chiara
Names that share Chiara's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sofia, Giulia, Aurora, Emma, Luna, Alessandra, Alessia, Antonella, Giada, Giovanna, Giuliana, Stefani, Andreana, Felice, Fiorella, Gabriele, Giulianna, Michela, Mirella, Nicoletta, Nicolina, Vittoria, Ambra, Ariele, Benedetta, Bruna, Cristiana, Emanuela, Emmanuela, Fransisca, Gianina, Giovana, Giulietta, Graziella, Ilaria, Letizia, Licia, Maddalena, Marilena, Raffaela, Renatta, Bernadetta, Byanka, Federica, Ginevra, Gioia, Grazia, Loredana, Lorella, Mariateresa, Ornella, Pietra, Allesandra, Annalucia, Enrica, Giordana, Marzia, Raphaella, Tanina, Tiziana, Zikora
Brothers: Matteo, Lorenzo, Alessandro, Francesco, Leonardo, Adriano, Aldo, Arnaldo, Carlo, Claudio, Dante, Dario, Federico, Giacomo, Giancarlo, Gianni, Giovani, Marcello, Mauro, Nino, Pasquale, Renzo, Silvio, Donato, Eligio, Enrico, Ezio, Fabio, Fabrizio, Flavio, Gianluca, Giorgio, Guido, Nicolo, Paolo, Pietro, Sandro, Saverio, Ubaldo, Vittorio, Attilio, Benedetto, Camillo, Cosimo, Damiano, Davide, Ettore, Filippo, Georgio, Gianmarco, Giuliano, Giulio, Isaia, Loreto, Maurizio, Niccolo, Piero, Primo, Raffaele, Savino, Stephano, Valerio, Alessio, Alfio, Amerigo, Bosco, Edoardo, Emanuele, Gianfranco, Gianlucca, Giovan, Giulian, Ignazio, Ilario, Martino, Massimiliano, Maurio, Orazio, Romano, Romolo, Savio, Tommaso, Ugo, Gianlucas, Livio, Alesso, Amaro, Caetano, Cataldo, Ennio, Fabrizzio, Giano, Gianpaolo, Liberato, Mikele, Raffael
