Given name & surname
Clare
“one who is bright”
In English use, Clare is a vernacular form of Clara. Clara is connected with the Latin idea of being famous, and is also interpreted through brightness. Clare is a variant of Clair. One Latin interpretation is “one who is bright.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Clare is a vernacular form of Clara. Clara is connected with the Latin idea of being famous, and is also interpreted through brightness. Clare is a variant of Clair. One Latin interpretation is “one who is bright.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Clare is a vernacular form of Clara. Clara is a post-classical Latin name used in English, Italian, and German. Clare is a variant of Clair. An origin associated with Clair is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Clare developed from the Latin form Clara. In English use, Clare is a vernacular form of Clara. The shared background comes through Clara: Clara uses the feminine form of Latin clarus. In English, it represents a return to the Latin form alongside the established spelling Clare.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Clare is a vernacular form of Clara. The history of Clara gives this family its wider story. Clara’s history includes English, Italian, and German use. In the Scottish Highlands, it also served as a translation equivalent of Sorcha.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Clare through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 34,510
- 3,054 boys · 31,456 girls
- Most popular year
- 1999
- 512 babies
- 2025
- 283
- #924 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 283 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 924 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 510 in 1998. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (25). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 25,764 as a first name in 2020; 4,107 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Clare’s family of names
In English usage, Clare shares a linguistic root with Claire. Clare has a related form in Clara. Clare has a related form in Claire.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Clare has relatives in 7 languages.
5 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Clare
- Clare HollingworthBritish journalist (1911-2017)
- Clare DalyIrish independent politicianborn 1968
- Clare KramerAmerican actressborn 1974
- Clare TorryBritish singerborn 1947
- Clare DennisAustralian swimmer, Olympic gold medallist (1916–1971)
- Clare HigginsBritish actressborn 1955
- Mo HayderBritish author of crime and thriller fiction (1962-2021)
- Clare CareyAmerican actress (born 1967)
- Clare GrantAmerican actressborn 1979
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Clare, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Clarissa
“fame”
>99% girls
Cheyenne
“unintelligible speaker”
1% boys · 99% girls
Luz
“refers to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Light” · “of the moon”
1% boys · 99% girls
Bailee
Bailee is a variant of Bailey. One English interpretation is “from the courtyard within castle walls; a public official.”
1% boys · 99% girls
Yasmine
“resembling the jasmine flower”
>99% girls
Kaycee
“vigilant, wakeful” · “a vigilant woman”
15% boys · 85% girls
Hope
“enclosed valley” · “one who has expectations through faith”
1% boys · 99% girls
Essence
“a perfumed woman”
1% boys · 99% girls