Clair
Clair is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Clear, bright, or famous.
Origin and history
Clair is a classic masculine name of French and Latin origin meaning clear or bright. Historically used for both boys and girls in the United States, it enjoyed peak male usage in the early-to-mid 20th century before becoming quite rare today. It shares roots with the female name Claire and the masculine Clara.
Popularity in the United States
12,041 babies in the United States have been named Clair since 1880. It ranks #1077 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1922.
States where it is most popular
- PA (50.2 %)
- IA (7 %)
- OH (6.6 %)
- MI (6.5 %)
- UT (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 156 |
| 1890-1900 | 295 |
| 1900-1910 | 397 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,212 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,169 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,319 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,541 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,061 |
| 1960-1970 | 513 |
| 1970-1980 | 199 |
| 1980-1990 | 110 |
| 1990-2000 | 42 |
| 2000-2010 | 12 |
| 2010-2019 | 10 |
| 2020-2029 | 5 |
Famous people named Clair
- Clair Bee: Basketball Coach, Author
- Clair Huffaker: Author, Screenwriter
Fun facts
- Clair is the direct French masculine adjective for 'clear' or 'bright', derived from the Latin 'Clarus'.
- Although often considered feminine today via Claire, Clair was historically common for men in 19th and early 20th century America.