The first name Clare
A girl’s name from Latin meaning “bright”, “shining”, “clear”.
Pronounced /klɛɚ/ 1 syllable Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Clare means “bright”, “shining”, “clear” in Latin.
Medieval English vernacular form of Clara, from the Latin clara, feminine of clarus (“bright, shining, clear”), a post-classical name made famous by the 13th century Saint Clara of Assisi. In Oxfordshire, from Clarora, a clay slope.
More names that mean light.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3 girls were named Clare, making it the 5,927th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 216 births (#200).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Clare with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Clare at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 283 girls born in the United States were named Clare, the 924th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1998, when 510 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Clare
48 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Clare HollingworthBritish journalist (1911-2017)
- Clare Boothe LuceAmerican writer, politician, ambassador, journalist and anti-Communist activist (1903-1987
- Clare KramerAmerican actress, born 1974
- Clare TorryBritish singer, born 1947
- Clare HigginsBritish actress, born 1955
- Clare GrantAmerican actress, born 1979
- Clare CareyAmerican actress (born 1967)
- Clare PolkinghorneAustralian association football player (born 1989)
- Clare MaguireBritish singer-songwriter, born 1987
- Clare BowenAustralian actress and singer, born 1984
- Clare-Hope AshiteyEnglish actress, born 1987
- Clare ShortBritish politician (born 1946)
More Latin girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Clare mean?
- Clare means “bright”, “shining”, “clear” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Clare?
- Medieval English vernacular form of Clara, from the Latin clara, feminine of clarus (“bright, shining, clear”), a post-classical name made famous by the 13th century Saint Clara of Assisi. In Oxfordshire, from Clarora, a clay slope.
- How popular is the name Clare?
- In 2025, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Clare, ranking 5,927th. Its peak was 1996, with 216 births.
- Is Clare a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 34,510 US babies named Clare since 1880, 91% were girls and 9% boys.
- When was Clare most popular?
- 1998 in the United States, when 510 babies were named Clare, its highest rank at 500th.
- How do you pronounce Clare?
- Clare is /klɛɚ/, one syllable.
- What are other spellings of Clare?
- Claire.
- Is Clare also a surname?
- Yes. Clare is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.