Clara Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Clara

Clara Name Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: clair-ah
See what 31 people think about Clara

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Clara Name Meaning

A vintage classic that’s been slowly creeping up in popularity, Clara is no doubt beautiful. Meaning “bright and clear,” she has some seriously stunning roots to rest on.

In her history, you’ll find all sorts of amazing associations like suffragist Clara Arthur, civil rights leader Clara Luper, and founder of the American Red Cross Clara Barton. Some may also recognize her from The Nutcracker, as the young heroine of the famous ballet. She’s also a Disney name, appearing as Clara Cluck, the chicken in Mickey Mouse cartoons.

Clara is undeniably mature, a touch more refined than her shorter sister Clare. At the same time, she can be dressed down with it as a nickname or Clary. While she is sophisticated, she’s not at all stuffy, wearing perfectly well on a young girl. She evokes images of lace and tulle, a delicate name that’s right at home playing dress up in childhood or gracing the runway as an adult.

Unlike many of the trendy picks of today, Clara isn’t plagued with alternate spellings other than Klara, a variant more preferred in Europe than stateside. Parents that are looking for something a little longer can check out Clarabel and Clarabeth, two unique ways to honor a Clara or similar pick.

Clara Name Popularity

How popular is the name Clara? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	32	2,649	0.7524%
1911	33	2,681	0.72%
1912	34	3,473	0.6887%
1913	36	3,623	0.639%
1914	37	4,240	0.6084%
1915	38	5,285	0.5817%
1916	39	5,543	0.5738%
1917	41	5,625	0.5623%
1918	43	5,774	0.538%
1919	43	5,398	0.5155%
1920	44	5,463	0.4913%
1921	45	5,605	0.4895%
1922	47	5,124	0.4599%
1923	49	5,131	0.4581%
1924	56	4,988	0.4295%
1925	55	4,769	0.4219%
1926	61	4,459	0.4054%
1927	63	4,363	0.3942%
1928	65	4,100	0.3832%
1929	65	4,137	0.3994%
1930	64	4,116	0.394%
1931	61	3,895	0.3946%
1932	70	3,558	0.3601%
1933	67	3,406	0.3656%
1934	76	3,215	0.3326%
1935	81	3,052	0.3141%
1936	91	2,671	0.2773%
1937	100	2,561	0.2599%
1938	97	2,642	0.2581%
1939	103	2,439	0.2398%
1940	111	2,302	0.2166%
1941	112	2,271	0.2018%
1942	122	2,224	0.1761%
1943	133	2,064	0.1581%
1944	134	1,919	0.1548%
1945	135	1,778	0.1458%
1946	145	1,893	0.1283%
1947	151	1,919	0.115%
1948	158	1,774	0.1111%
1949	168	1,695	0.1054%
1950	178	1,543	0.0958%
1951	186	1,524	0.0899%
1952	196	1,481	0.0848%
1953	214	1,351	0.0763%
1954	234	1,148	0.0628%
1955	225	1,271	0.0691%
1956	248	1,117	0.0591%
1957	259	1,077	0.056%
1958	276	991	0.0524%
1959	287	957	0.0504%
1960	313	873	0.0461%
1961	313	849	0.045%
1962	334	751	0.0409%
1963	347	706	0.0393%
1964	357	663	0.0377%
1965	379	540	0.033%
1966	383	522	0.0334%
1967	411	469	0.0309%
1968	471	370	0.0246%
1969	465	388	0.0252%
1970	528	315	0.0198%
1971	526	303	0.0202%
1972	490	319	0.0234%
1973	511	291	0.0224%
1974	532	271	0.0209%
1975	519	295	0.023%
1976	559	255	0.0198%
1977	586	249	0.0185%
1978	594	238	0.0177%
1979	552	291	0.0206%
1980	518	335	0.0229%
1981	574	274	0.0186%
1982	581	265	0.0177%
1983	608	237	0.0161%
1984	585	265	0.0178%
1985	553	311	0.0205%
1986	523	350	0.0232%
1987	516	362	0.0237%
1988	521	381	0.0244%
1989	539	382	0.0237%
1990	517	412	0.0249%
1991	462	490	0.0301%
1992	464	492	0.0308%
1993	425	550	0.0353%
1994	429	547	0.0356%
1995	394	631	0.0419%
1996	399	631	0.0421%
1997	411	600	0.0406%
1998	371	731	0.0488%
1999	371	757	0.0505%
2000	353	844	0.0552%
2001	324	929	0.0617%
2002	301	1,007	0.0672%
2003	294	1,027	0.0675%
2004	285	1,142	0.0749%
2005	243	1,312	0.0858%
2006	231	1,478	0.0944%
2007	225	1,533	0.0972%
2008	203	1,628	0.1053%
2009	198	1,633	0.1093%
2010	167	1,832	0.1271%
2011	150	2,065	0.1449%
2012	136	2,333	0.1637%
2013	131	2,493	0.1751%
2014	109	2,845	0.1953%
2015	98	3,057	0.2101%
2016	99	3,059	0.2122%
2017	95	3,013	0.2159%
2018	102	2,870	0.2089%
2019	94	2,922	0.2158%
2020	102	2,584	0.203%
2021	98	2,498	0.2043%
2022	110	2,536	0.1922%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Clara

If you like Clara, you’ll love these other names like Clara.

What names are diminutives of Clara?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Clara sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Clara, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Claire	Clear and bright	French
Clare	Bright, famous	Latin
Clarie	Bright, famous	Latin

What names are variants of Clara?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Clara.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Chiara	Bright, famous	Latin
Clarabelle	Bright, famous	Latin
Claramae		English
Claretha	Bright, famous	Latin
Claribel	Bright; beautiful	English
Clarice	A variant form of Clara.	Latin
Clarinda	A variant form of Clara.	Latin
Clarine	Bright, famous	Latin
Clarissa	Bright, famous	Latin
Clarita	Bright, famous	Latin
Claritza	Bright, famous	Latin

Clarrie	Bright, famous	Latin
Clarry	Bright, famous	Latin
Kiara	Black	Irish
Klara		Hungarian
Klarra	Bright, famous	Latin

What names sound like Clara?

If you like how Clara sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Clara.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Cara	Beloved; friend	Latin
Chloe	Green sprout	Greek
Cleo	“The celebrated one,” from the Greek kleo, make known or famous.	Greek
Cora	Maiden	Greek
Farrah	Good-looking	English
Keira	Black	Irish
Kiera	Lord	Greek
Kyra	Lord	Greek
Lara	Protection	Latin
Tara	Hill; star	Indian (Sanskrit)

What names are similar to Clara?

Find a name that’s like Clara, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender

Bethany	House of figs	Hebrew
Caroline	Free woman	French
Diana	Heavenly and divine	Latin
Eliza	God is my oath	English
Helena	Sun ray, shining light	Greek
Jessa	He sees	Hebrew
Julia	Youthful and downy	Latin
Lucia	Of the light	Italian
Lydia	From Lydia	Greek
Melanie	Black	Greek

Lists With Clara

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Clara.

Siblings of Clara

Mamas with kids named Clara also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Theodore	God's gift	Greek
Augustus	Great, magnificient	Latin
June	Month of June	Latin
Samuel	Name of God	Hebrew
Lucia	Of the light	Italian

Alonso	Ready for battle	Spanish
Felicity	Happiness	Latin
Rowan	Of the rowan tree	Gaelic
Nicolas	Victory of the people	Greek
Mathilde	Mighty in battle	German
Penelope	Weaver	Greek
Lydia
Julia	Youthful and downy	Latin
Glenys	Holy	Welsh

Share Your Thoughts

31 Comments

Clare Agyekum Mensah Jul 30 at 9:36 am

My mum is Clara, I am Clare and My daughter is Chiara

Reply
Payton May 22 at 5:03 am

Family name

Reply
Joy Dec 13 at 2:55 pm

Clara was my grandmother’s sisters name and she was a very special lady to me. Clara means “bright, shining light”…and our prayer is that is what she’ll be in this world. ?

Reply
Clara Mar 17 at 2:44 pm

I’m Clara and I knew only 3 people until now with my name, thanks to my parents who decided to give me this name because they didn’t agree over the other choices ?

Reply
- Lucia Joseph Apr 19 at 11:28 pm
  
  Woooowsuch a lovely name,proud of ma young cicy
  
  Reply
Allison Sep 7 at 1:48 pm

Old fashioned and classy

Reply
Liz Jun 21 at 11:03 am

We loved the meaning.
Derived from word meaning light. Found it very fitting for a time when our world needs more light. Also a family name from a few generations back.

Reply
the best mum ever May 11 at 8:12 pm

thats my name! but its pronounced “khlara”

Reply
- alilpoop May 11 at 8:13 pm
  
  ab;shabant,
  
  Reply
  - the best mum ever May 11 at 8:14 pm
    
    what
    the
    HEYLL
    
    Reply
Larissa Apr 30 at 8:44 am

I chose the name Clara for my little girl because I think it’s a beautiful classic name that still isn’t too popular- I don’t know any other Clara’s myself! It feels timeless, elegant and sweet.

Reply
Maddie Mar 8 at 8:28 am

I’ve always loved timeless names. I wanted a not so popular name but still simple and timeless.

Reply
Amy Nov 29 at 1:33 pm

We named our daughter Clara as it a family name on both sides. Her paternal great grandmother’s name was Klara and was from the Ukraine where spelling it with a K is common. We chose the traditional spelling with a C. My grandmother’s first born was named Clarice after her husband’s sister named Clara….so there’s the story. I think it is a classy name. =)

Reply
Gloria Sep 12 at 12:06 am

Clara .. love this name as it’s so close to my family ..

Reply
Brendan Sep 2 at 9:23 am

I am the man I am today because of my daughter, she patiently explains things to me and opens my eyes, she is graceful, humble,, deep and kind. I am proud to be her father and friend. Her name is Clara

Reply
- Clara Dec 23 at 2:36 am
  
  My parents actually called me Clara when they saw that when I was born, I was already gigling and dribbling, all happy and bright-looking.
  
  Reply
Aubrey Aug 7 at 10:07 am

We named our daughter Clara Joy. Clara means bright and the two names together fit so well! She was our bright joy after waiting so long, and I’m sure she’ll bring a lot of joy into others lives as well.

Reply
Hanna Boddy Jul 13 at 5:15 am

A form of Clare that sounds more feminine.

Reply
Sabina Feb 19 at 6:42 am

Clara ( Claire in english) means ‘clear’, ‘bold’, ‘formidable’.
I wished that my daughter would have a bold, truthfull character and this name embraceses these traits.

Reply
Melissa Sep 29 at 2:57 pm

She is named after her great-grandfathers, Clarence and James. Clara James is her name.

Reply
Hanna May 29 at 10:35 am

We named our baby Clara after my husband’s great grandmother who was a
strong, spunky German woman and also because it’s a good classic name and we just liked it.

Reply
Taylor Callahan Dec 6 at 9:15 am

We chose Clara because I love the name and it is also my Grandmothers name. I love the older more traditional names versus these new age names that are coming out now.

Reply
Natalie Nov 10 at 4:03 pm

A famous female classical composer girls named Clara and I like the femininity of the name

Reply
Mama Sep 5 at 1:28 pm

Love it.
A few children the same age are named the same way.

Reply
Lauren Jul 11 at 10:34 am

I was a ballerina all of my life and was in the Nutcracker and always loved the Nutcracker and Clara is the main character in it. Also, my middle name is Claire so a little spin off of that too. ?

Reply
Jennifer Jul 5 at 6:45 pm

It was my grandmothers name & I always thought it was beautiful. We’ve gotten lots of compliments on it.

Reply
Carolyn Apr 22 at 1:55 pm

We love classic names. Claire was a consideration (also beautiful) but we prefer names slightly less common without being too unusual. Clara was perfect. We find it to be simple, elegant, classic and beautiful with a grateful nod to previous generations. It’s perfect for our daughter!

Reply
Mm C Apr 17 at 10:13 am

We thought it was a beautiful name and that’s about it! We heard it from Clara Cannucciari, a YouTube channel where a 90+ woman shared her Great Depression videos.

Reply
Kathryn Apr 13 at 8:00 pm

Classic and beautiful, but not overused or terribly common. A feminine alternative to Claire. Means “light” or “clear” and she is a light to our lives.

Reply
Grace Apr 13 at 6:14 pm

I chose the name Clara because I like “old fashioned names”. It’s a simple and classic name. I wanted a name that wasn’t super popular, but also wasn’t too unique. I love my baby girl’s name!

Reply
Tory Apr 11 at 2:12 pm

My son’s middle name is Augustus, named after a main character in the Western book/movie Lonesome Dove. Clara is another main character in Lonesome Dove who selflessly loves and nurses her husband on his death bed. She cares for the homestead, farm, and even catches a baby at home and adopts the baby as her own. She is a true woman and we love that we are raising some Western character children.

Reply

Clara