Claire vs Eimear
Claire and Eimearcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Eimear #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Eimear #207 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Eimear #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Eimear over time
Claire and Eimear appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Eimear in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Eimear in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Eimear moved ahead of Claire in Northern Ireland · Girls — #32 and #43 the year before became #45 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Eimear were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #352 and #207.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Eimear #1365 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #28 and #31 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #407 and #110.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Eimear in 29.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Eimear #26 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Eimear moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #28 and #30; by 1998 that had become #37 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Eimear #207.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Eimear in 0.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Eimear #1365 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Eimear #4192.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Eimear in 20.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Eimear #31 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Eimear moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #32 and #43; by 2000 that had become #45 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Eimear #110.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Claire | Eimear |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #207 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Eimear does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire and Eimear both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Eimear doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Eimear a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Eimear
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #207 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls