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.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 17,717 |
| 1890s | 25,473 |
| 1900s | 23,899 |
| 1910s | 44,346 |
| 1920s | 48,183 |
| 1930s | 31,658 |
| 1940s | 20,028 |
| 1950s | 12,768 |
| 1960s | 6,505 |
| 1970s | 3,290 |
| 1980s | 3,668 |
| 1990s | 6,266 |
| 2000s | 12,789 |
| 2010s | 26,657 |
| 2020s | 17,277 |
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.
“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
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.

