A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Clarabelle since 1884
Babies named Clarabelle per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 12 |
| 1890s | 26 |
| 1900s | 83 |
| 1910s | 384 |
| 1920s | 573 |
| 1930s | 308 |
| 1940s | 51 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 69 |
| 2010s | 246 |
| 2020s | 188 |
Meaning & origin
Clarabelle is a vintage compound name that combines Latin and French elements meaning 'bright' and 'beautiful'. It first appeared in U.S. naming records in 1884 and reached its peak popularity in 1919, when it ranked among the top 500 names. After declining for decades, the name has been rising in use since 1999, reflecting a broader revival of ornate, turn-of-the-century names. In 2025, Clarabelle ranked 4,265, with approximately 1 in 48,705 newborn girls receiving the name. The name carries a cheerful, old-fashioned charm, partly due to its association with the Disney character Clarabelle Cow, a longtime friend of Mickey Mouse.
Clarabelle is a combination of the Latin 'clarus' meaning 'bright, clear' and the French 'belle' meaning 'beautiful'. It emerged in the late 19th century as a fanciful compound name, popularized partly by the comic strip character Clarabelle Cow (created 1928 by Walt Disney). The name saw its peak usage in the 1910s in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clara, Belle, Clari
Variants: Clarabell, Claribel, Claribelle
Sibling names for Clarabelle
Names that share Clarabelle's style, for a brother or sister.
