Clare
Clare is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Clear, bright, or famous.
Origin and history
Clare is derived from the Latin adjective 'clarus', meaning 'clear', 'bright', or 'famous'. Although predominantly given to females today, Clare has a historic background as a masculine name derived from the male saint Clarus. In the United States, masculine usage was most active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Popularity in the United States
3,054 babies in the United States have been named Clare since 1880. It ranks #2335 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- MI (73.6 %)
- PA (8.7 %)
- IA (4.3 %)
- OH (3.6 %)
- WI (2.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 90 |
| 1890-1900 | 112 |
| 1900-1910 | 140 |
| 1910-1920 | 624 |
| 1920-1930 | 853 |
| 1930-1940 | 493 |
| 1940-1950 | 364 |
| 1950-1960 | 239 |
| 1960-1970 | 91 |
| 1970-1980 | 38 |
| 1980-1990 | 5 |
| 1990-2000 | 5 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Latin 'clarus', which referred to physical clarity of light or sound as well as fame.
- While currently rare for boys in the U.S., Clare was historically used as a masculine name across Europe, particularly in medieval times.