Abigail
Hebrew
“my father is joyful”
Mostly girls · French form of Clara
“bright, clear”
Say it KLAIRPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, is one of those special names that is familiar yet distinctive, feminine but not frilly, combining historical depth with a modern edge. And though Claire is enjoying revived popularity, it will never be seen as trendy. Claire is also a great middle name choice.
Claire is the French form of Clara, a feminine derivation of the Latin masculine name Clarus. The French word for "clear," Claire's meaning, is clair, and was traditionally a male name. Now, the spelling is used mainly for girls, along with Clare, and occasionally Klaire or Klare.
Claire is usually seen as the French spelling of the name, while the equally appropriate Clare is English and Clair is French too. Clara, once seen as a stuffier version, has lately gained some fashion edge, primarily because it has more vintage charm and is somewhat more unusual. The Italian Chiara is another recommended choice.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 68 | 3,487 |
| 2024 | Girls | 67 | 3,337 |
| 2023 | Girls | 68 | 3,200 |
| 2022 | Girls | 66 | 3,380 |
| 2021 | Boys | 12,486 | 5 |
| 2021 | Girls | 59 | 3,704 |
| 2020 | Girls | 58 | 3,837 |
| 2019 | Girls | 55 | 4,130 |
| 2018 | Girls | 50 | 4,406 |
| 2017 | Boys | 12,656 | 5 |
| 2017 | Girls | 49 | 4,702 |
| 2016 | Girls | 40 | 5,216 |
| 2015 | Girls | 49 | 4,837 |
| 2014 | Girls | 44 | 5,015 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Hebrew
“my father is joyful”
German
“work”
English
“noble strength”
French, feminine diminutive of Charles
“free man”
Latin
“bright, clear”
Hebrew
“pledged to God”