Given name · also Latin
Clarice
“fame”
Clarice is used as a given name. One Latin interpretation is “fame.”
Original FrenchClarisse
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “fame.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In English usage, Clarice developed from the Italian form Clarissa.
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. Clarice is a 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
Clarice through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 25,570
- 96 boys · 25,474 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 600 babies
- 2025
- 52
- #3,111 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 52 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,111 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 0.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 600 in 1921. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,598 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Clarice’s family of names
In English usage, Clarice developed from the Italian form Clarissa. Clarice has a related form in Clara. Clarice is a form of Clara.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Clarice has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
3 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 19
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
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 Clarice
- Clarice LispectorUkrainian-Brazilian writer, poet, and journalist (1920–1977)
- Clarice Orsiniwife of Lorenzo de' Medici1453–1488
- Clarice de' MediciItalian noble (1493-1528)1489–1528
- Clarice BeniniItalian chess player (1905-1976)
- Clarice PhelpsAfrican American nuclear chemistborn 1981
- Clarice BeckettAustralian artist (1887-1935)
- Clarice Tayloractress (1917–2011)
- Clarice FalcãoBrazilian, singer, musician and actressborn 1989
- Clarice CliffEnglish ceramic artist (1899-1972)
Characters named Clarice: Clarice Starling (the Hannibal Lecter series by Thomas Harris).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Clarice, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Clair
“one who is bright”
3% boys · 97% girls
Pauline
“a petite woman”
>99% girls
Una
“one who is pure; chaste”
>99% girls
Alta
“to be elevated”
>99% girls
Charline
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Marie
“a grieving woman; one who is sorrowful”
>99% girls
Alva
“one who has a fair complexion” · “a bright man”
24% boys · 76% girls
Vita
“life”
>99% girls