Declining since 1999, #924 for girls today.
Popularity of Clare since 1880
Babies named Clare per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1998, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clare's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 277 | 90 |
| 1890s | 455 | 112 |
| 1900s | 607 | 140 |
| 1910s | 1,655 | 624 |
| 1920s | 2,339 | 853 |
| 1930s | 1,879 | 493 |
| 1940s | 2,128 | 364 |
| 1950s | 2,880 | 239 |
| 1960s | 2,245 | 91 |
| 1970s | 1,076 | 38 |
| 1980s | 2,039 | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,968 | 5 |
| 2000s | 4,396 | 0 |
| 2010s | 3,777 | 0 |
| 2020s | 1,735 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Clare, a name meaning 'bright, clear,' has been in use in the United States since at least 1880, ranking 924th in 2025. Its peak year was 1884, and its popularity has been falling since 1999. Historically, Clare has been most common in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Kansas. While the variant Claire has become more fashionable in recent decades, Clare remains a classic choice with a straightforward spelling and pronunciation.
Clare is the English and Irish form of the Latin name Clara, from clarus meaning 'bright, clear.' It has been used in Ireland since the Middle Ages, often as an anglicized form of Irish names like Clár. The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the 19th century.
Where Clare 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.
“Clare” around the world
Where Clare lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clarie
Sibling names for Clare
Names that share Clare's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Clare
Names whose popularity has moved with Clare's over the last 50 years.
