MallowbyNames

Clara

KLAIR-uh · bright, clear

2025 rank (girls)
#63
Babies named in 2025
3,601
Peak popularity
1885
2025 frequency
1 in 446 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Rising since 1985

A 1880s favorite, climbing again.

Popularity of Clara since 1880

Babies named Clara per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clara's real moment was 1885.

1.9k3.9k5.8k1880192019602000Most births 1918Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s17,717
1890s25,473
1900s23,899
1910s44,346
1920s48,183
1930s31,658
1940s20,028
1950s12,768
1960s6,505
1970s3,290
1980s3,668
1990s6,266
2000s12,789
2010s26,657
2020s17,277

Meaning & origin

Clara, a name with Latin roots meaning 'bright' or 'clear', has been a consistent presence in the U.S. naming landscape since at least 1880. After a peak in popularity in 1885 when it ranked highest, Clara fell into a long decline before beginning a steady resurgence that started around 1985. This trajectory has brought it back into the top 100, ranking 63rd in 2025 with approximately 1 in 446 newborn girls receiving the name. The name shows particular favor in states like Vermont, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Its enduring appeal lies in its straightforward elegance and cross-cultural recognition, sharing a heritage with other classic names like Lucy and Evelyn.

Clara derives from the Latin feminine form of clarus, meaning 'bright, clear, famous.' The name has been in use since at least the Middle Ages, popularized by Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), a follower of Saint Francis and founder of the Poor Clares. It has remained a classic in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English-speaking countries.

Where Clara 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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few births

Clara” around the world

Where Clara lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    #90

    in 2024

  • Ireland

    #73

    in 2025

  • New Zealand

    34

    babies in 2025

  • Quebec

    #14

    in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Clary, Cee

Variants: Claire, Clare, Chiara, Klarissa

Sibling names for Clara

Names that share Clara's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Lucy, Evelyn, Vivian, Lucille, Alice, Alberta, Alisa, Alma, Amelia, Anna, Annie, Audra, Beatrice, Bertha, Bette, Blanca, Cecilia, Celeste, Cora, Edith, Edna, Elaine, Eleanor, Elena, Elinor, Elisa, Eliza, Ella, Ellen, Elsie, Emerson, Emilia, Erma, Esther, Eula, Eva, Florence, Georgia, Harriett, Helen, Helena, Ida, Imogene, Inez, Laura, Lea, Lena, Lillie, Lydia, Marina, Melody, Muriel, Myra, Nell, Nina, Nola, Rosa, Ruth, Stella, Adaline, Adela, Adele, Adell, Adella, Adria, Ailene, Alba, Aleen, Aletha, Alissa, Alta, Alva, Alyce, Annetta, Audry, Avis, Berta, Candida, Celia, Corina, Corine, Corinna, Edwina, Edythe, Eleanore, Elissa, Elnora, Elora, Elouise, Elsa, Elva, Emelie, Ernestine, Estel, Estella, Estelle, Etta, Evalyn, Felicity, Flor, Flossie, Freda, Frida, Genna, Glenna, Gretta, Heidy, Ila, Iola, Karis, Keva, Kirsten, Lara, Lenora, Lenore, Leona, Leta, Lidia, Lilian, Lissa, Louisa, Lucie, Lucile, Lucinda, Luella, Luisa, Lula, Mabelle, Maebelle, Margot, Margurite, Marlen, Marnie, Marta, Maud, Maude, Mirabelle, Nelle, Nona, Norah, Novella, Ophelia, Pearline, Petra, Rena, Roselyn, Sofie, Starla, Terra, Tess, Thea, Theda, Virgia, Vivien, Waverly, Adelene, Aide, Alease, Alise, Alix, Allean, Allena, Alvena, Alvera, Alys, Alysse, Amalie, Analise, Annah, Annice, Annis, Audria, Aura, Aurea, Avonlea, Bea, Beaulah, Bell, Berna, Cassia, Celesta, Charolette, Clemmie, Cleone, Cleta, Dafne, Delsie, Delta, Dorotha, Dyana, Elba, Elease, Elenor, Elenora, Elenore, Elinore, Elna, Elois, Elvina, Emogene, Ena, Erline, Estell, Ethyl, Evalena, Evelena, Eveline, Felisa, Fleta, Freeda, Genevia, Genevie, Genie, Georgine, Grayce, Hermine, Hildred, Ilda, Irine, Irish, Jocelin, Jule, Junia, Karah, Lanora, Leonia, Leonie, Leonore, Liesel, Lilla, Luci, Madlyn, Marinda, Maris, Marni, Maybell, Melita, Meranda, Merna, Mignon, Minna, Minta, Oda, Rea, Rosabelle, Roselee, Rosena, Rozella, Rozlyn, Sabella, Salena, Sibyl, Tanna, Thais, Tilda, Adalaide, Adalena, Adalene, Addeline, Adelena, Adelin, Adline, Adra, Aleece, Aliene, Allyne, Alvia, Alyne, Anaise, Anice, Annalea, Annel, Annia, Annora, Arah, Arva, Audery, Audre, Beata, Caris, Carola, Cecila, Celester, Chari, Charle, Chessa, Cicily, Clarabell, Clarene, Claretha, Clary, Claudina, Clea, Cleona, Clyda, Corean, Corinn, Desma, Devera, Edelyn, Eilleen, Elane, Elanna, Eleen, Eleena, Eleonor, Elese, Elize, Ellanora, Ellar, Eller, Ellice, Elloise, Ellorie, Ellouise, Elner, Elnor, Elsia, Elyn, Emiline, Estes, Ethelda, Etheline, Evalee, Fayette, Feliz, Florice, Glori, Helaina, Helon, Idabelle, Idelle, Inda, Irean, Ireta, Isidora, Janeva, Jeannett, Jennetta, Jessamine, Jessye, Karra, Katha, Laia, Laretta, Laurena, Leanore, Leoda, Leoma, Leotha, Letecia, Letticia, Levina, Lilliam, Linna, Lodema, Loetta, Loula, Loura, Lucetta, Lus, Lydiann, Lyna, Lynea, Maevis, Marda, Marget, Margrette, Mariza, Maudine, Mayda, Melodye, Merita, Mertice, Mora, Narda, Nuria, Odelle, Onalee, Orene, Ottilia, Ottilie, Patria, Resa, Rheba, Rhetta, Roanna, Rorie, Rosabel, Rosalene, Rosalin, Rossi, Saralee, Saydie, Sylva, Tais, Taura, Terressa, Thera, Toria, Vista, Vivia, Viviann, Adabelle, Adahlia, Adalae, Adalei, Adalis, Adelae, Adelai, Adlyn, Albirta, Alcie, Aldena, Allice, Alyene, Aneita, Angeleen, Annelisa, Anorah, Aulora, Avelyn, Bertice, Betha, Caria, Caro, Cecilee, Ceclia, Celise, Charma, Chloris, Clariece, Clela, Cliffie, Clotee, Corinda, Cybil, Deliliah, Edell, Edla, Edyth, Elanore, Elesa, Elesia, Eletha, Eliabeth, Elice, Elleanor, Ellenora, Ellenore, Elliotte, Elmire, Elody, Elsi, Emagene, Emmagene, Emmalene, Emmylou, Ernesta, Esley, Ethelyne, Evaleen, Eveleen, Eveny, Evetta, Evva, Exa, Fedora, Floella, Florance, Frona, Geniva, Georgana, Gizel, Gloris, Gwendolyne, Haizel, Iara, Icie, Imogean, Inetta, Isola, Jarissa, Julina, Juline, Justa, Laini, Larah, Larra, Larua, Lavren, Leara, Lenni, Lenor, Letica, Lilas, Linnaea, Liona, Livian, Lorice, Lovelle, Lovett, Lucianne, Lucill, Lucylle, Lumina, Lusia, Lydiah, Mabell, Madeleyn, Madline, Marca, Margia, Mariaclara, Mariona, Mayetta, Merrit, Myna, Myrtha, Naara, Norie, Norina, Norva, Oleva, Paulyne, Pearlena, Saidee, Slyvia, Teckla, Tersa, Thecla, Thekla, Thresia, Valetta, Valyn, Varina, Venia, Veria, Verina, Veronia, Vienne, Vita, Adlene, Arabel, Dama, Elliet, Fauna, Ovida, Pama, Adamae, Agusta, Aldina, Alichia, Aliese, Alvine, Amaly, Amarylis, Analeise, Annaleese, Annalyce, Annye, Arlina, Armine, Arryn, Audris, Avice, Avilyn, Beatric, Bernarda, Bia, Bona, Breta, Candita, Charina, Cicilia, Clessie, Cleva, Clista, Clova, Datha, Derra, Dovey, Elener, Elenie, Ellanore, Ellianne, Emilene, Emmelina, Emmogene, Emony, Erabella, Erine, Ermel, Ermina, Esmarie, Eunie, Evalin, Faline, Flara, Freada, Geneive, Genette, Grettell, Gusta, Hyla, Imajean, Iness, Inice, Josabet, Joyia, Laetitia, Lavine, Lavra, Lealer, Leaner, Leanor, Lemma, Lilias, Lilliane, Lillion, Lilygrace, Linea, Loie, Lowe, Lurie, Lynia, Madalen, Madell, Maeci, Marien, Merian, Merriel, Nedda, Nelliel, Nolynn, Norena, Novalea, Novis, Octa, Olita, Ovetta, Phala, Ranie, Rosaleah, Rosea, Ruthia, Sabel, Sarahanne, Sharisa, Sybel, Sydna, Tecla, Therma, Thursa, Tilia, Valeen, Veralynn, Verita, Vincenta, Viney, Vivyan, Wilna, Zoa

Brothers: Henry, Arthur, Leo, Samuel, Theodore, Albert, Alfred, Arnold, Aron, August, Benjamin, Byron, Calvin, Cecil, Chester, Clyde, Darwin, Dewey, Dwight, Edgar, Edmond, Edward, Edwin, Elliott, Elmer, Elton, Emmett, Ernest, Eugene, Felix, Frank, Gilbert, Grover, Harry, Howard, Hubert, Hugh, Ian, Irvin, Jasper, Jude, Louis, Lucas, Luther, Marshall, Martin, Maurice, Nelson, Noel, Oliver, Oscar, Otto, Owen, Ralph, Roy, Stanley, Victor, Vincent, Virgil, Wade, Warren, Wilbert, Wilbur, Adolph, Alden, Algie, Alphonse, Andreas, Antony, Archer, Arlen, Arlo, Audie, Austen, Barron, Barton, Bertram, Burl, Burt, Casper, Cedric, Chauncey, Claud, Clement, Cletis, Cletus, Cleveland, Conrad, Cornell, Dewitt, Dexter, Dudley, Edson, Elbert, Elden, Eldridge, Eliot, Ellwood, Elmo, Elwood, Emil, Emile, Emmet, Errol, Felton, Finis, Finnegan, Fredric, Fulton, Galen, Gilford, Gorge, Granville, Gus, Hamilton, Hanson, Hardy, Harlan, Haywood, Holden, Horace, Hoyt, Irving, Jarrell, Jarvis, Jordi, Kingsley, Lenard, Linus, Lowell, Lyndon, Macarthur, Manning, Markus, Marshal, Mathias, Matthias, Maynard, Merle, Millard, Milo, Morton, Murrell, Myron, Newton, Odell, Olin, Orin, Orrin, Otis, Quenton, Quincy, Quinten, Rolland, Ruel, Rufus, Seymour, Sherman, Talmadge, Theadore, Titus, Vander, Verne, Waldo, Walton, Ward, Warner, Wendell, Westley, Wilmer, Wilton, Winfield, Winfred, Winston, Adelbert, Albino, Alen, Alston, Ansel, Anthoney, Apolonio, Arlan, Armond, Arno, Arther, Arvel, Authur, Barnett, Bartley, Bastian, Benard, Bennet, Boyce, Calvert, Candido, Carlisle, Carlyle, Charlton, Chauncy, Cipriano, Clearence, Clemens, Cleophus, Cleve, Colon, Conway, Cord, Darvin, Demian, Denton, Desmon, Dolphus, Eben, Elgin, Elmore, Elroy, Elwin, Faron, Farris, Fenton, Ferris, Garner, Gerome, Giles, Hardin, Harland, Haydn, Hazen, Hillard, Huston, Jamin, Joao, Kimball, Ladd, Landis, Lauro, Lawerence, Leamon, Lige, Linton, Lionell, Lonzo, Loring, Lovell, Lucus, Ludwig, Lyman, Malvin, Manley, Maury, Mayer, Mayo, Melton, Merrell, Merton, Milburn, Monta, Montie, Newell, Newman, Nikolaus, Nolen, Norton, Norwood, Oral, Orie, Oris, Orland, Orson, Otho, Perrin, Phillips, Prentis, Prentiss, Rollie, Rowland, Sedric, Taft, Talmage, Tytus, Ulisses, Urban, Verdell, Waylan, Webb, Webster, Wendel, Windell, Winton, Worth, Wright, Wyman, Yancey, Adams, Adelard, Adric, Adron, Alban, Aldrich, Alejo, Alger, Alson, Alto, Amey, Ancel, Anthon, Armstead, Arthor, Astor, Audley, Baden, Ballard, Bascom, Beauford, Beecher, Belvin, Bensen, Broadus, Burgess, Burney, Burr, Cantrell, Carles, Carlus, Carney, Carvel, Caspar, Chael, Clearance, Clearnce, Clell, Clenton, Cleotha, Cleven, Cline, Clois, Colvin, Con, Conard, Corvin, Creston, Cylas, Dashel, Dillinger, Dodge, Donley, Dorion, Dow, Edwyn, Eldrick, Eliga, Elige, Eligh, Elridge, Elven, Emerick, Enis, Ericson, Erman, Ermon, Erving, Esmond, Essex, Everet, Everitt, Evertt, Ewing, Ferd, Ferrel, Fielding, Filipe, Finneas, Freddrick, Fremont, Froilan, Gaither, Garlan, Geroge, Gerrard, Gilman, Gordan, Guilherme, Hadden, Halbert, Handy, Harding, Harman, Harrel, Henson, Hervey, Hillis, Holmes, Hoyle, Hubbard, Hue, Irby, Isham, Isidor, Ivin, Ivis, Javis, Jiles, Jud, Kern, Klint, Larence, Lavere, Lear, Legrand, Lehman, Lelan, Lendon, Lilburn, Linford, Linville, Lorence, Lucan, Marcio, Marico, Marshel, Milas, Morrell, Murel, Murle, Myer, Nelvin, Nilo, Norvin, Obert, Odus, Ogden, Opie, Orren, Orvel, Orvis, Overton, Pershing, Philipp, Pryor, Purvis, Quint, Rendell, Renwick, Revis, Reymond, Rober, Robt, Rogerio, Rohen, Rolan, Rubert, Ruffus, Rulon, Ruperto, Sabin, Sewell, Sylis, Symon, Tevis, Thadius, Thedore, Theordore, Thurlow, Tilmon, Ulric, Vaden, Vertis, Vinicius, Vinton, Volney, Wash, Welford, Wilmot, Windle, Wolfe, Woodroe, Wynton, Zell, Abundio, Andreu, Arles, Arren, Arth, Asberry, Atwood, Aubra, Averill, Barnaby, Barnes, Barnet, Barth, Benford, Bernal, Bernerd, Bertin, Birl, Bluford, Borden, Burk, Burley, Burnard, Burrel, Bynum, Caswell, Cato, Chalmer, Chrles, Claudis, Claxton, Clete, Clif, Colen, Colyn, Corbet, Craven, Crespin, Daved, Denney, Deo, Derril, Devian, Duward, Edder, Elbridge, Eldredge, Elray, Emmert, Estus, Ethridge, Eugen, Eward, Fermon, Filmore, Finnan, Flem, Fredick, Garet, Granvil, Graylon, Gurney, Hewitt, Heyden, Hillman, Huber, Inman, Irvan, Jeorge, Jerimie, Jonus, Juddson, Julis, Kennet, Kennett, Kester, Kline, Leam, Leeman, Lennin, Lenon, Leory, Light, Limmie, Loman, Loras, Ludwin, Lynnwood, Lytle, Marinus, Marsden, Mase, Maston, Matson, Miner, Morse, Needham, Norval, Ollen, Olney, Orley, Orvill, Osker, Piers, Pio, Press, Quitman, Ralston, Rayner, Raynor, Rolin, Royston, Sebron, Selden, Seldon, Shadd, Sims, Stanely, Talton, Telford, Theone, Theran, Thurmond, Tilton, Trueman, Tymon, Ulis, Verdon, Vincient, Wadell, Waldron, Weller, Willey, Williard, Wilmont, Wilver, Wirt, Wyland, Wyndell, Yago, Anothy, Belmont, Cas, Cedrik, Colburn, Dominyk, Gustin, Haward, Herny, Isador, Nicandro, Olander, Alberth, Allin, Almus, Alverto, Ambers, Arrin, Atwell, Audwin, Aulden, Aurel, Baer, Belton, Berley, Bonner, Burris, Byard, Calbert, Calven, Capers, Charlis, Chevis, Chrys, Clarion, Claron, Claudy, Clavin, Cleaven, Cleburn, Clerance, Clester, Corbitt, Correll, Cosby, Cranford, Culver, Custer, Daemien, Denman, Donat, Doren, Dorr, Duell, Earsel, Edman, Edwing, El, Elick, Elsworth, Emett, Ermin, Ervine, Ewart, Farmer, Felder, Ferran, Gaelan, Garrell, Harace, Harce, Haston, Holbert, Hulbert, Idus, Issiac, Ivann, Jhonnie, Juell, Julias, Julies, Kermitt, Lavie, Lavin, Leaman, Leeon, Lelend, Leonell, Leray, Lomax, Lovelace, Lyal, Marvon, Math, Mervil, Merville, Milferd, Narvel, Ness, Nester, Newel, Nicolis, Nobel, Nolon, Nolton, Norlan, Norrin, Ogle, Olis, Olman, Olon, Orby, Orton, Orvell, Osby, Philmore, Rafel, Remer, Robben, Rodolph, Rolen, Samiel, Sargent, Sergi, Shafter, Silvan, Stanlee, Thoms, Tilford, Tillmon, Tristain, Tullio, Twain, Ulys, Upton, Vane, Varick, Voris, Voyd, Wallen, Weber, Wilkin, Wyley

Names like Clara

Names whose popularity has moved with Clara's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

C is for Clara, our favorite little girl.

C is for Clara…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Clara's letter becomes Clara's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Clara's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Clara mean?
Clara means 'bright' or 'clear' in Latin.
How popular is Clara today?
In 2025, Clara ranks 63rd among girls' names in the U.S., with about 1 in 446 baby girls given the name.
Is Clara a boy or girl name?
Clara is almost exclusively used as a girl's name.