Clare
Clare is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Clear, bright, or famous.
Origin and history
Clare is an English form of the Latin name Clara, derived from the word meaning clear, bright, or famous. It gained widespread usage in the Middle Ages due to Saint Clare of Assisi. In the United States, it remains a traditional and steadily used feminine name.
Popularity in the United States
31,456 babies in the United States have been named Clare since 1880. It ranks #811 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #877.
States where it is most popular
- NY (15.5 %)
- PA (11 %)
- CA (8.8 %)
- IL (8.1 %)
- MA (6.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 277 |
| 1890-1900 | 455 |
| 1900-1910 | 607 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,655 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,339 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,879 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,128 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,880 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,245 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,076 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,039 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,968 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,396 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,777 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,735 |
Famous people named Clare
- Clare Boothe Luce: Author, Politician
- Clare Bowen: Actress, Singer
- Clare Foley: Actress
Fun facts
- Saint Clare of Assisi was designated as the patron saint of television and telecommunications by Pope Pius XII in 1958.
- Clare is also the name of a famous county in Ireland, though the personal name's root is Latin.