Clara: Meaning, Origin & Everything You Need to Know
Clara is a Latin name meaning 'clear', 'bright' or 'famous'.
At a Glance
- Pronunciation
- KLAIR-uhˈklɛr.ə
- Origin
- Latin
- Meaning
- Clara is a Latin name meaning 'clear', 'bright' or 'famous'.
- Gender
- Girl's name
- Syllables
- 2
- Nicknames
- Clare, Clarie, Cici
- US Popularity (2025)
- #63 — 📈 Rising
What Does Clara Mean?
Clara is the Latin adjective clarus, meaning 'clear', 'bright' and, by extension, 'famous'. It is the root of English words like 'clarity' and 'declare', and of the related names Clare, Claire, Clarissa and the Italian Chiara. Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Francis who founded the Poor Clares in the early thirteenth century, spread the name across Europe.
It was a top-10 name in the US in the 1880s, with a best rank of #7 in 1885, then faded for most of the next century. Since 2022 it has been climbing again, moving from #110 to #63 in three years.
Two famous bearers are Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross in 1881, and Clara Schumann, a nineteenth-century German pianist and composer whose concert career lasted more than sixty years.
How Popular Is Clara?
Clara sat around #95 to #110 until 2022, then rose to #78 in 2024 and #63 in 2025.
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) baby name data, ssa.gov/oact/babynames, 2025.
Middle Names That Go with Clara
Classic pairings
- Clara Elizabeth
- Clara Josephine
- Clara Louise
- Clara Margaret
Modern pairings
- Clara Wren
- Clara Marlowe
- Clara Juniper
- Clara Wilder
One-syllable options
- Clara Rose
- Clara Jane
- Clara Belle
- Clara Mae
Family-name bridges
- Clara Ann
- Clara Marie
- Clara Grace
- Clara Catherine
Names Similar to Clara
If you love Clara, you might also like these names with a similar feel, origin, or sound.
Sibling Names That Go with Clara
💙 Brother names
💗 Sister names
Famous People Named Clara
- Clara BartonFounder of the American Red Cross and a Civil War nurse.
- Clara SchumannGerman pianist and composer, wife of Robert Schumann.
- Clara OswaldCompanion of the Doctor in the television series 'Doctor Who'.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Clara
Is Clara a boy or girl name?
Clara is primarily a girl's name. It is very rarely used for boys.
How do you pronounce Clara?
Clara is pronounced KLAIR-uh (IPA: ˈklɛr.ə). It has 2 syllables. Common nicknames include Clare, Clarie, Cici.
Is Clara a Latin name?
Clara is of Latin origin. Clara is a Latin name meaning 'clear', 'bright' or 'famous'.
What does Clara mean?
Clara is a Latin name meaning 'clear', 'bright' or 'famous'.
Clara is the Latin adjective clarus, meaning 'clear', 'bright' and, by extension, 'famous'. It is the root of English words like 'clarity' and 'declare', and of the related names Clare, Claire, Clarissa and the Italian Chiara. Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Francis who founded the Poor Clares in the early thirteenth century, spread the name across Europe.
Is Clara a popular name in 2026?
Yes, Clara is a highly popular name. It ranked #63 in the United States in 2025 according to the Social Security Administration. The name is currently trending upward. Clara sat around #95 to #110 until 2022, then rose to #78 in 2024 and #63 in 2025.
What are good middle names for Clara?
Good middle names for Clara include classic choices like Clara Elizabeth and Clara Josephine, modern options like Clara Wren and Clara Marlowe, and crisp one-syllable pairings like Clara Rose and Clara Jane. The best middle name depends on your surname and personal style.
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