Girls · #63 in 2025
Clara: Meaning, Origin & Popularity
- Origin
- Latin
- Meaning
- Clear, bright, or famous
- Pronunciation
- KLAIR-uh or KLAH-ruh
- Nickname options
- Clare, Clary
Origin and meaning
Clara comes from the Latin adjective clarus, whose senses include clear, bright, and famous. It is the feminine form in that name family. Claire is a French relative with a different sound and shape.
U.S. popularity
Clara ranked #63 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 3,601 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #7, reached in 1885. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.
Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.
The Hello Baby Names take
Clara feels precise and graceful. The strong opening gives it definition, while the final A softens it. It works especially well for parents who enjoy vintage names but prefer something compact, clear, and comfortable without a nickname.
Things to consider
Both KLAIR-uh and KLAH-ruh are established pronunciations. Think about which is natural in your family and local accent. If you aren't sure, have people read the written name out to see how it's most likely to be pronounced locally. This is especially helpful if you live somewhere other than where you grew up and the dialect may be slightly different.
If you love Clara, consider…
- Claire: Condenses the same name family into one syllable.
- Nora: Keeps the composed two-syllable feeling.
- Alice: Offers a softer opening and classic mood.
- Lucy: Brings a brighter, more cheerful rhythm.
- Cora: Keeps the shape with a rounder vowel.
- Eleanor: Adds length and nickname options.
- Iris: Offers a more botanical, crisp alternative.
- Audrey: Brings a similarly tailored vintage sound.