Clara is a feminine given name of Latin origin, meaning "clear" or "bright". It is derived from the Latin word "clarus", which means "famous" or "clear". The name Clara has been popular throughout history and continues to be so today.
The earliest known use of the name Clara dates back to ancient Rome. It was often given as a nickname for girls with bright or fair complexions, as well as those who were considered particularly radiant or brilliant in some way. In medieval times, the name Clara became more widely used throughout Europe, often bestowed upon daughters of noble families.
In the Middle Ages, Saint Clara of Assisi (1194-1253) played a significant role in popularizing the name Clara. Born into a wealthy Italian family, she chose to live a life of poverty and devoted herself to serving God. She eventually founded the Order of Poor Clares, a religious order that still exists today.
Throughout the centuries, many notable women have borne the name Clara. Some examples include Clara Schumann (1819-1896), a renowned German pianist and composer who was married to Robert Schumann; Clara Barton (1821-1912), an American humanitarian nurse who founded the Red Cross; and Clara Zetkin (1857-1933), a German Communist activist and feminist.
Today, the name Clara remains popular in many countries around the world. It is often associated with qualities such as brightness, clarity, and radiance, reflecting its Latin roots. Whether chosen for its meaning or simply because it sounds beautiful, Clara continues to be a beloved name for baby girls.
The name Clara has been popular among parents choosing names for their newborn daughters in the United States over the past century and a half. According to annual birth statistics, Clara first peaked in popularity during the late 1800s, with over 2600 births each year from 1892 onwards.
The early 1900s saw a continued rise in the number of girls named Clara, reaching an all-time high of nearly 5300 births in 1915. This trend persisted until the late 1940s when the popularity of the name began to decline steadily.
Despite this decline, Clara remained a relatively common name throughout much of the mid-20th century, with around 300-500 births each year between 1950 and 1980. In recent decades, however, there has been a resurgence in popularity for the name Clara. Starting in the late 1980s, more parents have once again begun choosing this classic name for their daughters.
In fact, according to the most recent data available from the Social Security Administration, there were over 2600 births of girls named Clara in both 2021 and 2022, indicating that Clara is currently one of the top names chosen by American parents for newborn daughters. Overall, since 1879 when records began being kept on birth names, a total of approximately 345,000 babies have been named Clara in the United States.