Claire

femaleLatin, via French transmission

The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'.

Origin: Latin, via French transmission

Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1954 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #10 in Republic of Ireland in 1987. See regions.

Claire: Recorded since 1954, it reached #10 in 1984, and it stood at #352 in 2025.

6registrars recorded it
197times a registrar ranked it
72years from first to last
#10highest recorded position
42groupings it qualifies for
61names it appears alongside

What stands out in Claire's record

Held a top-100 place for 59 years running. Names by top-100 run
Moved 242 places between two consecutive years — its largest recorded change. Names by largest single-year move
Appears alongside 61 other names across 8 kinds of recorded relationship. All recorded relationships
Shares a published list with another name across 62 years. Longest shared records

KLAIR/klɛʁ/

Compare Claire Run Name Checker on Claire

Data Confidence

Evidence: HighCompleteness: CompleteEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (6) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Latin, via French transmission
Meaning: The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'.
Pronunciation: KLAIR
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: female
Language family: Latin, via French transmission

Popularity

Region

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#90
1997	#114
1998	#134
1999	#171
2000	#226
2001	#267
2002	#307
2003	#415
2004	#369
2005	#483
2006	#556
2007	#623
2008	#767
2009	#576
2010	#747
2011	#817
2012	#825
2013	#865
2014	#986
2015	#984
2016	#852
2017	#915
2018	#1013
2019	#838
2020	#1127
2021	#983
2022	#1023
2023	#1288
2024	#1021
2025	#1362

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Republic of Ireland in every year from 1964 to 2025.

In 2025: #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #1362 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 6 national registrars across 6 regions, 1954–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Claire appears in 5 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Girls, with 62 ranked years and 11,171 births registered; the earliest is New Zealand · Girls, from 1954.

Claire across 5 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Claire's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#75 (1964)	#10 (1984)	#352 (2025)	62 of 62	11,171 (1964–2025)	499 (1982)
New Zealand · Girls	#98 (1954)	#23 (1980)	#96 (2013)	34 of 60	3,174 (1954–2013)	146 (1980)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#88 (1976)	#40 (1990)	#86 (2022)	47 of 47	5,734 (1976–2022)	169 (1990)
England and Wales · Girls	#90 (1996)	#90 (1996)	#1362 (2025)	30 of 30	3,142 (1996–2025)	564 (1996)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#28 (1997)	#26 (1998)	#407 (2024)	23 of 28	545 (1997–2024)	94 (1998)

Claire by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Claire in Republic of Ireland · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960s	619	6 of 10	103
1970s	2,554	10 of 10	255
1980sbusiest	4,481	10 of 10	448
1990s	2,393	10 of 10	239
2000s	784	10 of 10	78
2010s	272	10 of 10	27
2020s	68	6 of 10	11

Across Republic of Ireland · Girls, the 1980s were its busiest decade, averaging 448 births a year.

See the names Republic of Irelandhas recorded the most births with →

Claire appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 6 registrars between 1954 and 2025, ranked in 66 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #10, first reached in 1984.

It held a top-100 place in 63 years, 59 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 564 births, registered in England and Wales in 1996.

1 registrar ranked it inside their own top 10.

Its record falls into 3 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 4 years.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1964, and 70 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Claire was ranked #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls in 1984. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Claes · #315, 29y
Clair · #237, 37y
Clara · #32, 63y
Claragh · #171, 16y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 6 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Darren · #10, 66y
Connor · #11, 61y
Declan · #12, 62y
Hazel · #8, 62y

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1950 and 1959.

Gerard · #10, 72y
Line · #10, 71y
Timothy · #10, 74y
Wayne · #10, 74y

Comparisons involving Claire

Existing comparison pages where Claire and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Claire in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Nicola vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #1362.
Nicola · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Lily vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #1362.
Lily · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Poppy vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #1362.
Poppy · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Claire within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Claire vs Phoebe
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Phoebe averaged 12.6 places apart, ending at #86 and #72.
Claire · Phoebe · 25 shared years, 1998–2022 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2022 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Claire vs Katherine
Across 30 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Claire and Katherine averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #85 and #65.
Claire · Katherine · 30 shared years, 1955–1993 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1993 New Zealand ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Claire and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Niamh vs Claire
In 1988, Niamh moved ahead of Claire in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #11 and #10 the year before became #6 and #12.
Niamh · Claire · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1988 Republic of Ireland ranking
Ciara vs Claire
In 1985, Ciara moved ahead of Claire in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #13 and #10 the year before became #8 and #10.
Ciara · Claire · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1985 Republic of Ireland ranking
Claire vs Brittany
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Brittany moved into the top 50 at #26 in 1992 as Claire fell out of it to #59, having been #42 the year before.
Claire · Brittany · 11 shared years, 1989–2000 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 1992 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs involving Claire measured in Republic of Ireland's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Claire at its highest position.

Claire vs Audrey
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #85 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #352 and #885.
Claire · Audrey · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Christine vs Claire
In 1964 they stood at #65 and #75 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #352.
Christine · Claire · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Claire vs Suzanne
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #67 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #228 and #734.
Claire · Suzanne · 52 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2018 Republic of Ireland ranking

Republic of Ireland overview→

Claire and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Claire without appearing here.

Claire moved ahead of

Aimee Compare
In 2023 they stood at #1288 and #1206 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2024 that had become #1021 and #1603.
Courtney Compare
In 2020 they stood at #1127 and #1065 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2021 that had become #983 and #1454.
Shannon Compare
In 2017 they stood at #915 and #915 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2018 that had become #1013 and #1436.
Jodie
In 2014 they stood at #986 and #920 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2015 that had become #984 and #1405.

Moved ahead of Claire

Fiadh
In 2019 they stood at #838 and #1063 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #1127 and #460.
Marie
In 2024 they stood at #1021 and #1894 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2025 that had become #1362 and #778.
Harper
In 2011 they stood at #817 and #858 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2012 that had become #825 and #284.
Cassandra
In 2019 they stood at #838 and #881 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #1127 and #589.

Moved the opposite way to Claire

Emma
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 while Emma went from #245 to #28.
Kate
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 while Kate went from #300 to #52.
Melissa
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 while Melissa went from #372 to #173.
Tara
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 while Tara went from #327 to #166.

Moved the same way as Claire

Audrey Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 and Audrey from #85 to #885.
Elaine
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 and Elaine from #58 to #608.
Ida
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 and Ida from #372 to #885.
Julia
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Claire went from #75 to #352 and Julia from #42 to #118.

Meaning & Origin

The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Latin, via French transmission

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Claire is officially recorded

6 official registrars have recorded Claire, between 1954 and 2025, in 66 of those 72 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
New Zealand	1954–2013	34	#23 in 1980
Republic of Ireland	1964–2025	62	#10 in 1984
New South Wales, Australia	1976–2022	47	#40 in 1990
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#90 in 1996
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	23	#26 in 1998
Scotland	2024	1	#638 in 2024

Its high point came 44 years earlier in New Zealand (1980) than in Scotland (2024).

No registrar recorded it for 4 years after 1959; it appears again in 1964.

Variants

Clara · spelling

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

Common alternate spellings: Clara.

Pronunciation

KLAIR/klɛʁ/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Claire Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Claire in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

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Claire

Claire at a glance

What stands out in Claire's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Claire across 5 official records

Claire by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Claire appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Claire

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Claire

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Claire and the names beside it

Claire moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Claire

Moved the opposite way to Claire

Moved the same way as Claire

Meaning & Origin

Where Claire is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Claire Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Claire at a glance

What stands out in Claire's record

Claire across 5 official records

Claire by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Claire appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Claire

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Claire

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Claire and the names beside it

Claire moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Claire

Moved the opposite way to Claire

Moved the same way as Claire