The nameClaire
Claire is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "bright, clear". The French form of Clara, it is an elegant classic in English too.
- Girl's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Claire comes from the Latin clara, "bright, clear, famous".
Origin
Latin, through French. Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis, founded the Poor Clares in the 13th century.
History
Claire was used in medieval England as Clare. It reached the American top 40 recently and is a classic in France.
Claire in other languages
Claire is spelled the same in English and French. It is Clara in Spanish, Portuguese and German, Chiara in Italian and Klara in Polish and the Nordic countries.
Did you know?
- Claire Foy played the young Elizabeth II in the series The Crown.
Famous people named Claire
- Saint Clare of Assisi
- Claire Danes, actress
- Claire Foy, actress
- Claire Fraser, Outlander heroine
Popularity of the name Claire
Claire in the United States
Claire was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 47,730 births over the decade, 23% of all recorded babies named Claire. Its rise began around 1913, and it peaked in 2016. Half of all babies named Claire in the United States were born before 1999. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,491 births a year on average, against 4,659 in the five years before.
Claire in the United Kingdom
Claire was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 1990s, with 1,743 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Claire. Half of all babies named Claire in the United Kingdom were born before 2000. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 35 births a year on average, against 45 in the five years before.
Claire in Ireland
Claire in France
Claire in Belgium
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Claire
Names from the same generation as Claire, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Claire? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Claire with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Claire side by side with the name of your choice.
Claire in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Claire mean?
Claire comes from the Latin clara, "bright, clear, famous".
What is the origin of the name Claire?
Latin, through French. Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis, founded the Poor Clares in the 13th century.
Is Claire a girl's or a boy's name?
Claire is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Claire?
In 2024, Claire was the 67th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 3,329 births.
What are the variants of the name Claire?
Variants and related names of Claire include Clara, Kiara and Klara.
What are good sibling names for Claire?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Natalia, Liliana, Valerie and Juliana for a sister, Vincent, Max, Dominic and Adrian for a brother.
Who are famous people named Claire?
Saint Clare of Assisi; Claire Danes, actress; Claire Foy, actress; Claire Fraser, Outlander heroine.