Clara Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Clara is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Clara?
Clara is spelled C-L-A-R-A. The name has 5 letters.
Clara at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Clara is derived from the Latin word “clarus,” meaning “clear” or “bright.”
- Origin
- Clara is commonly associated with Latin origins, where it signifies clarity or brightness.
- Pronunciation
- KLAIR-uh · 2 syllables
Clara Popularity in 2025
Rank#63
Recorded Births3,601
- Girls usage rose 15 places to #63 and recorded 529 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Clara Mean?
Clara is derived from the Latin word “clarus,” meaning “clear” or “bright.”
Origin: Clara is commonly associated with Latin origins, where it signifies clarity or brightness.
How Do You Pronounce Clara?
PronunciationKLAIR-uh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Clara?
- History
- The name Clara has historical usage in various European cultures, often appearing in religious and literary contexts from the medieval period onwards.
Clara Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 3,601 | #63 |
| 2024 | Girls | 3,072 | #78 |
| 2023 | Girls | 2,662 | #98 |
| 2022 | Girls | 2,553 | #110 |
| 2021 | Girls | 2,693 | #102 |
| 2020 | Girls | 2,696 | #103 |
| 2019 | Girls | 2,951 | #95 |
| 2019 | Boys | 5 | #12,145 |
| 2018 | Girls | 2,892 | #103 |
| 2017 | Girls | 3,045 | #95 |
| 2016 | Girls | 3,075 | #100 |
| 2016 | Boys | 5 | #12,185 |
| 2015 | Girls | 3,070 | #98 |
| 2014 | Girls | 2,860 | #108 |
| 2013 | Girls | 2,508 | #131 |
| 2012 | Girls | 2,336 | #136 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,078 | #151 |
| 2011 | Boys | 7 | #9,600 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,842 | #167 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,650 | #199 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,654 | #204 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,555 | #225 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,497 | #231 |
| 2006 | Boys | 5 | #12,055 |
When Was Clara Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Girls
5,778 recorded births
National rank #43
1917 · Girls
5,626 recorded births
National rank #41
1921 · Girls
5,606 recorded births
National rank #45
1916 · Girls
5,544 recorded births
National rank #39
Where Clara Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NE | #13 | 54 |
| ND | #21 | 22 |
| ME | #27 | 22 |
| SD | #28 | 19 |
| MN | #29 | 101 |
| VT | #30 | 11 |
| WI | #31 | 94 |
| MT | #33 | 17 |