Claire vs Poppy
Claire and Poppycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Poppy #7 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Poppy #24 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Claire was ranked #96 and Poppy #40 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2022, Claire was ranked #86 and Poppy #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Poppy #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Poppy #105 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Claire and Poppy over time
Claire and Poppy appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Poppy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Claire in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Poppy in none. 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 1997, Poppy moved ahead of Claire in England and Wales · Girls — #90 and #92 the year before became #114 and #108.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Poppy changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2009 and 2022, ending at #86 and #45.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Poppy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #7.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #90 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #7.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Poppy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Poppy #5 in 2014.
The order changed in 1997: Poppy moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #90 and #92; by 1997 that had become #114 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Poppy #7.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1990–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Poppy in 15.
Highest recorded here: Claire #15 in 1990, Poppy #89 in 2024.
The order changed in 2011: Poppy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #164 and #200; by 2011 that had become #170 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Poppy #105.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Poppy in 14.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Poppy #27 in 2021.
The order changed in 2006: Poppy moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #138 and #148; by 2006 that had become #121 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Poppy #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2022
Claire held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Poppy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Claire #46 in 2012, Poppy #45 in 2022.
The order changed in 2018: Poppy moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #49 and #57; by 2018 that had become #66 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Claire #86, Poppy #45.
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 | Poppy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | Taken directly from the English word for the red flower. |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /ˈpɒpi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Poppy is recorded with a English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver origin.
- Claire and Poppy both have 2 syllables.
- Claire's recorded meaning differs from Poppy's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Poppy 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 #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Poppy
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #7 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls