Claire vs Monica
Claire and Monicacompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Claire was ranked #52 and Monica #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Claire was ranked #152 and Monica #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Claire was ranked #339 and Monica #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Monica #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Monica #1229 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Monica over time
Claire and Monica appear together in 2 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Monica in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1965, Claire moved ahead of Monica in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #75 and #70 the year before became #63 and #68.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Monica changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1362 and #1229.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Monica were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #1229.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #70 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #339 and #727.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2023
Claire held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Monica in 1.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Monica #68 in 1965.
The order changed in 1965: Claire moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #75 and #70; by 1965 that had become #63 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Claire #339, Monica #727.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Monica in 6.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Monica #274 in 1997.
The order changed in 2025: Monica moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1021 and #1449; by 2025 that had become #1362 and #1229.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Monica #1229.
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 | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Monica is recorded with a Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) origin.
- Claire has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Monica.
- Claire's recorded meaning differs from Monica's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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 #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls