Claire
Claire is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Clear, bright, or famous.
Origin and history
Claire is a French name derived from the Latin word 'clarus', meaning 'clear', 'bright', or 'famous'. It became widely popular throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century. In the United States, it remains a timeless classic, ranking among the top 100 female names in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
211,919 babies in the United States have been named Claire since 1880. It ranks #186 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #66.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.4 %)
- NY (9.1 %)
- MA (6.8 %)
- PA (5.9 %)
- TX (5.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 448 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,013 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,858 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,705 |
| 1920-1930 | 14,994 |
| 1930-1940 | 12,639 |
| 1940-1950 | 10,261 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,262 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,944 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,943 |
| 1980-1990 | 10,844 |
| 1990-2000 | 25,326 |
| 2000-2010 | 39,009 |
| 2010-2019 | 47,728 |
| 2020-2029 | 20,945 |
Famous people named Claire
- Claire Danes: Actress
- Claire Foy: Actress
- Claire Bloom: Actress
Fun facts
- Claire originated as the French form of the Latin name Clara, which holds the meaning of bright or shining.
- It has maintained steady popularity in the United States for over a century, consistently appearing in top rank lists.