Claire: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Girl name origins & meanings

What does Claire mean and stand for?

Meaning:

Latin: Clear, bright
French: Famous, illustrious

Gender: Female

Syllables: 1

Pronunciation: The name Claire is pronounced klair

The name Claire has its origins in the Latin word clarus meaning clear, bright, or famous. It later evolved into the French version Claire, widely used today. The name was popularized by Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies. The elegant and timeless quality of the name Claire has made it a perennial favorite for parents around the world.

Girl name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English and Irish: variant spelling of Clare.

French: from the female personal name Claire (feminine form of Clair), which was popularized through the fame of St. Clare of Assisi (see Chiara).

Famous people with this first name

Claire Danes

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Joanne Woodward

Paul Newman

Claire in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Claire Dunphy from Modern Family - A perfectionist and headstrong mother with a quirky family.
Claire Bennet from Heroes - A high school cheerleader with the ability to spontaneously regenerate.
Claire Temple from Marvel's Daredevil - A dedicated nurse who assists various vigilante characters.
Claire Fraser from Outlander - A WWII nurse who time-travels to 18th-century Scotland.
Claire Redfield from Resident Evil - A college student who repeatedly confronts terrifying bioweapons.

Popularity of the Name Claire

According to Social Security Administration data, Claire has been consistently popular, falling slightly from the top 50, which it had been in since 2011. It has been in the top 100 since 2000.

Claire is the French spelling that has gained popularity across the globe. In medieval times, Saint Clare of Assisi, who later became the patron saint of television, was one of the most well-known Claires. Other notable Claires include writer Clare Booth Luce, silent screen siren Clara Bow, and actresses Claire Bloom and Claire Danes. Fictional characters with the name have appeared in the movie The Breakfast Club, the novel Passing, and series House of Cards, Lost, Six Feet Under, Modern Family, and Outlander.