Fun Facts About the Name Claire
- A newer favorite: Claire first entered the U.S. top 100 in 1998 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 28 consecutive years.
- More than 214 thousand babies named Claire: U.S. records list 214,110 babies given the name Claire from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,204 boys received the name Claire - about 1 boy for every 96 girls.
What Does the Name Claire Mean?
Claire is the French feminine form of the Latin name Clarus, which comes from the Latin adjective clarus, meaning "clear," "bright," or "distinct." The same adjective also carried the figurative sense "renowned" or "illustrious" - it appears in the Latin title clarissimus, used for high-ranking Romans - so the name's sense of "famous" grows out of the same root rather than a separate one. Latin had both a masculine Clarus and a feminine Clara; Claire descends from the feminine Clara by way of French, where the Latin ending -a regularly became -e. The Italian form is Chiara, the Spanish and German form is Clara, and English also uses Clare. The core meaning is literal: clear or bright.
Claire Name History & Origins
The name spread through medieval Europe as the Latin Clara, most famously borne by Saint Clare of Assisi (c. 1194 - 1253). Born Chiara Offreduccio in Assisi, she founded the women's branch of the Franciscan movement, known in English as the Poor Clares after her, and was canonized in 1255. Her Italian name Chiara, along with Clara in Spain and German-speaking lands and Claire in France, became well established across Catholic Europe in the centuries that followed.
Claire is the French descendant of Clara, formed by the regular French shift of Latin feminine -a to -e. Both the feminine Claire and the masculine Clair were used in France. The spelling Claire passed into English from French, where it sits alongside the earlier English Clare and the Latin-derived Clara; all three are forms of the same name rather than separate inventions.
The Irish county name Clare is unrelated: it comes from Irish Clár, meaning "plain" or "level ground," and only resembles the personal name.
How Popular is the Name Claire?
Claire recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Claire entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 1998.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #68 | 3,487 | 0.2170% |
| 2024 | #67 | 3,329 | 0.2064% |
| 2023 | #67 | 3,199 | 0.1996% |
| 2022 | #66 | 3,380 | 0.2063% |
| 2021 | #59 | 3,703 | 0.2258% |
| 2020 | #58 | 3,837 | 0.2375% |
| 2019 | #55 | 4,130 | 0.2462% |
| 2018 | #50 | 4,405 | 0.2591% |
| 2017 | #49 | 4,702 | 0.2724% |
| 2016 | #40 | 5,216 | 0.2944% |
| 2015 | #49 | 4,837 | 0.2710% |
| 2014 | #44 | 5,015 | 0.2808% |
| 2013 | #50 | 4,660 | 0.2656% |
| 2012 | #45 | 4,944 | 0.2808% |
| 2011 | #50 | 4,900 | 0.2786% |
| 2010 | #53 | 4,916 | 0.2766% |
| 2009 | #53 | 4,825 | 0.2627% |
| 2008 | #62 | 4,601 | 0.2433% |
| 2007 | #66 | 4,612 | 0.2399% |
| 2006 | #86 | 4,013 | 0.2111% |
| 2005 | #95 | 3,293 | 0.1782% |
| 2004 | #99 | 3,333 | 0.1815% |
| 2003 | #92 | 3,571 | 0.1955% |
| 2002 | #95 | 3,405 | 0.1895% |
| 2001 | #82 | 3,642 | 0.2023% |
| 2000 | #86 | 3,711 | 0.2044% |
| 1999 | #86 | 3,734 | 0.2105% |
| 1998 | #91 | 3,642 | 0.2061% |
| 1997 | #108 | 3,039 | 0.1746% |
| 1996 | #116 | 2,741 | 0.1564% |
| 1995 | #129 | 2,474 | 0.1407% |
| 1994 | #149 | 2,175 | 0.1218% |
| 1993 | #165 | 1,897 | 0.1049% |
| 1992 | #158 | 1,949 | 0.1057% |
| 1991 | #162 | 1,819 | 0.0970% |
| 1990 | #158 | 1,854 | 0.0977% |
| 1989 | #171 | 1,671 | 0.0906% |
| 1988 | #190 | 1,446 | 0.0812% |
| 1987 | #202 | 1,335 | 0.0768% |
| 1986 | #198 | 1,307 | 0.0762% |
| 1985 | #220 | 1,188 | 0.0690% |
| 1984 | #254 | 979 | 0.0581% |
| 1983 | #275 | 857 | 0.0513% |
| 1982 | #299 | 815 | 0.0481% |
| 1981 | #343 | 680 | 0.0408% |
| 1980 | #404 | 567 | 0.0341% |
| 1979 | #400 | 541 | 0.0337% |
| 1978 | #420 | 481 | 0.0314% |
| 1977 | #430 | 472 | 0.0308% |
| 1976 | #485 | 377 | 0.0257% |
| 1975 | #475 | 388 | 0.0266% |
| 1974 | #483 | 367 | 0.0250% |
| 1973 | #453 | 407 | 0.0279% |
| 1972 | #585 | 274 | 0.0180% |
| 1971 | #587 | 297 | 0.0179% |
| 1970 | #547 | 341 | 0.0195% |
| 1969 | #501 | 378 | 0.0224% |
| 1968 | #515 | 353 | 0.0215% |
| 1967 | #480 | 389 | 0.0236% |
| 1966 | #420 | 499 | 0.0295% |
| 1965 | #403 | 526 | 0.0298% |
| 1964 | #394 | 607 | 0.0320% |
| 1963 | #372 | 676 | 0.0351% |
| 1962 | #328 | 807 | 0.0410% |
| 1961 | #331 | 811 | 0.0402% |
| 1960 | #315 | 899 | 0.0445% |
| 1959 | #284 | 995 | 0.0492% |
| 1958 | #288 | 962 | 0.0478% |
| 1957 | #271 | 1,030 | 0.0504% |
| 1956 | #277 | 985 | 0.0491% |
| 1955 | #273 | 993 | 0.0508% |
| 1954 | #258 | 1,031 | 0.0531% |
| 1953 | #244 | 1,090 | 0.0579% |
| 1952 | #241 | 1,078 | 0.0581% |
| 1951 | #239 | 1,061 | 0.0589% |
| 1950 | #234 | 1,038 | 0.0606% |
| 1949 | #226 | 1,090 | 0.0637% |
| 1948 | #232 | 1,023 | 0.0603% |
| 1947 | #216 | 1,180 | 0.0666% |
| 1946 | #212 | 1,115 | 0.0710% |
| 1945 | #211 | 916 | 0.0701% |
| 1944 | #202 | 1,006 | 0.0758% |
| 1943 | #207 | 1,001 | 0.0717% |
| 1942 | #199 | 1,027 | 0.0760% |
| 1941 | #196 | 953 | 0.0789% |
| 1940 | #194 | 950 | 0.0831% |
| 1939 | #189 | 931 | 0.0849% |
| 1938 | #184 | 1,074 | 0.0973% |
| 1937 | #191 | 959 | 0.0901% |
| 1936 | #176 | 1,083 | 0.1041% |
| 1935 | #171 | 1,124 | 0.1072% |
| 1934 | #155 | 1,309 | 0.1254% |
| 1933 | #144 | 1,372 | 0.1361% |
| 1932 | #140 | 1,506 | 0.1411% |
| 1931 | #139 | 1,627 | 0.1528% |
| 1930 | #136 | 1,654 | 0.1469% |
| 1929 | #134 | 1,699 | 0.1522% |
| 1928 | #136 | 1,734 | 0.1503% |
| 1927 | #136 | 1,836 | 0.1540% |
| 1926 | #144 | 1,679 | 0.1416% |
| 1925 | #159 | 1,503 | 0.1235% |
| 1924 | #160 | 1,583 | 0.1268% |
| 1923 | #167 | 1,392 | 0.1154% |
| 1922 | #167 | 1,339 | 0.1115% |
| 1921 | #182 | 1,210 | 0.0981% |
| 1920 | #194 | 1,019 | 0.0850% |
| 1919 | #197 | 953 | 0.0843% |
| 1918 | #186 | 1,072 | 0.0926% |
| 1917 | #200 | 926 | 0.0856% |
| 1916 | #208 | 838 | 0.0802% |
| 1915 | #204 | 809 | 0.0822% |
| 1914 | #219 | 570 | 0.0748% |
| 1913 | #212 | 490 | 0.0785% |
| 1912 | #212 | 440 | 0.0788% |
| 1911 | #213 | 333 | 0.0796% |
| 1910 | #233 | 274 | 0.0691% |
| 1909 | #218 | 259 | 0.0746% |
| 1908 | #224 | 235 | 0.0703% |
| 1907 | #230 | 206 | 0.0647% |
| 1906 | #213 | 213 | 0.0721% |
| 1905 | #232 | 184 | 0.0631% |
| 1904 | #244 | 163 | 0.0592% |
| 1903 | #233 | 164 | 0.0626% |
| 1902 | #244 | 156 | 0.0591% |
| 1901 | #266 | 122 | 0.0510% |
| 1900 | #262 | 156 | 0.0520% |
| 1899 | #260 | 121 | 0.0519% |
| 1898 | #259 | 133 | 0.0514% |
| 1897 | #275 | 105 | 0.0448% |
| 1896 | #283 | 106 | 0.0446% |
| 1895 | #259 | 118 | 0.0505% |
| 1894 | #283 | 96 | 0.0431% |
| 1893 | #277 | 92 | 0.0432% |
| 1892 | #292 | 86 | 0.0405% |
| 1891 | #267 | 84 | 0.0453% |
| 1890 | #291 | 72 | 0.0378% |
| 1889 | #307 | 62 | 0.0348% |
| 1888 | #270 | 73 | 0.0409% |
| 1887 | #278 | 58 | 0.0397% |
| 1886 | #265 | 61 | 0.0422% |
| 1885 | #284 | 49 | 0.0368% |
| 1884 | #342 | 33 | 0.0256% |
| 1883 | #287 | 38 | 0.0338% |
| 1882 | #324 | 30 | 0.0278% |
| 1881 | #339 | 23 | 0.0250% |
| 1880 | #354 | 21 | 0.0231% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #12,479 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #12,651 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,067 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,062 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,956 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #9,294 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #6,602 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #9,873 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,947 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #6,635 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #4,722 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #3,001 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #5,868 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #4,302 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,176 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #6,703 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #3,702 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #5,220 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,022 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #3,751 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #4,038 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #4,144 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,360 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #2,318 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #3,601 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #2,511 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #2,286 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #3,008 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #1,565 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #2,052 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,624 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,652 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1950 | #1,756 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #1,833 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #1,716 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #1,606 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #1,774 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1945 | #1,506 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1944 | #1,639 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1943 | #1,435 | 24 | 0.0017% |
| 1942 | #1,142 | 36 | 0.0026% |
| 1941 | #1,214 | 30 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,162 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1939 | #1,324 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1938 | #1,278 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1937 | #1,076 | 36 | 0.0034% |
| 1936 | #992 | 40 | 0.0039% |
| 1935 | #1,023 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1934 | #957 | 44 | 0.0043% |
| 1933 | #1,083 | 37 | 0.0037% |
| 1932 | #1,094 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1931 | #776 | 65 | 0.0063% |
| 1930 | #980 | 48 | 0.0044% |
| 1929 | #845 | 60 | 0.0056% |
| 1928 | #827 | 63 | 0.0057% |
| 1927 | #831 | 65 | 0.0058% |
| 1926 | #955 | 51 | 0.0046% |
| 1925 | #816 | 66 | 0.0059% |
| 1924 | #825 | 67 | 0.0059% |
| 1923 | #757 | 75 | 0.0068% |
| 1922 | #840 | 66 | 0.0061% |
| 1921 | #805 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1920 | #786 | 72 | 0.0068% |
| 1919 | #1,010 | 45 | 0.0046% |
| 1918 | #826 | 63 | 0.0062% |
| 1917 | #800 | 62 | 0.0067% |
| 1916 | #758 | 65 | 0.0073% |
| 1915 | #863 | 51 | 0.0060% |
| 1914 | #936 | 35 | 0.0053% |
| 1913 | #790 | 36 | 0.0070% |
| 1912 | #839 | 28 | 0.0065% |
| 1911 | #901 | 14 | 0.0062% |
| 1910 | #939 | 12 | 0.0062% |
| 1909 | #961 | 10 | 0.0061% |
| 1908 | #717 | 14 | 0.0091% |
| 1907 | #561 | 19 | 0.0129% |
| 1906 | #805 | 10 | 0.0075% |
| 1905 | #531 | 19 | 0.0144% |
| 1904 | #984 | 7 | 0.0055% |
| 1903 | #706 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1902 | #947 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1901 | #1,081 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1900 | #1,066 | 7 | 0.0047% |
| 1899 | #624 | 11 | 0.0104% |
| 1898 | #753 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1897 | #800 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1896 | #680 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1894 | #875 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1893 | #1,070 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1890 | #906 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1886 | #993 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #711 | 8 | 0.0074% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Claire
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Recent Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Claire
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with C
How the Name Claire Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Claire's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Claire's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.