Find out how popular the first name Claire has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Claire by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Claire is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Claire being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 3,195 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Claire.

The history of the first name Claire

The name Claire has its origins in the Latin word "clarus", which means "clear" or "bright". It is a feminine form of the masculine name Clarus or Clario. The name first appeared in ancient Rome during the Roman Empire.

Claire is derived from the French form of the name, which was popularized in medieval France. It is believed that the first recorded use of the name Claire was in the 12th century, referring to St. Clare of Assisi, an Italian nun and one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. She was born in 1194 and founded the Order of Poor Ladies, now known as the Poor Clares.

Throughout history, there have been several notable women named Claire. One of the most famous was Claire of Rimini, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century. She was immortalized in Dante's "Divine Comedy" for her tragic love affair with Paolo Malatesta.

In the 16th century, Claire Clémence de Maillé-Brézé was a French courtier and the mistress of King Henry IV of France. She was known for her intelligence and political influence at the French court.

Claire Clairmont was an English writer and the stepsister of Mary Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein". She was born in 1798 and had an affair with Lord Byron, resulting in a daughter.

Another notable Claire was Claire Waldoff, a German actress and cabaret singer who was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. She was born in 1884 and is remembered for her comedic performances and risqué songs.

In the 20th century, Claire Booth Luce was an American writer, politician, and ambassador. Born in 1903, she was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the first American woman to hold a major ambassadorial post.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Claire was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Claire, please contact us.

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