The name Clarice has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the Roman family name Clarus, which means "bright" or "clear." It emerged during the ancient Roman era and was initially used as a feminine form of the masculine name Clarus.

The earliest documented use of the name Clarice can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in medieval records and literature. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Clarice dei Gherardini, a 12th-century Italian noblewoman from Florence, who was the wife of Tancred of Lecce, a Norman prince.

In the 13th century, Clarice gained prominence as the name of Clarice Strozzi, an Italian noblewoman from the powerful Strozzi family of Florence. She was the wife of Niccolo Machiavelli, the renowned political philosopher and author of the influential work "The Prince."

The name Clarice also appeared in religious contexts, such as in the 14th century when Clarice of Montefalco, an Italian Augustinian nun, was known for her mystic visions and was later canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.

Another notable bearer of the name was Clarice Orsini, an Italian noblewoman from the Orsini family, who lived in the 15th century. She was the wife of Lorenzo de' Medici, the famous ruler of Florence during the Italian Renaissance.

In the 16th century, Clarice Strozzi, an Italian noblewoman and poet, was a significant figure in the literary circles of Renaissance Italy. She was renowned for her poetry and her patronage of the arts.

Over the centuries, the name Clarice has been borne by several other notable individuals, including Clarice Cliff, a 20th-century English ceramic artist and designer known for her distinctive Art Deco pottery; Clarice Lispector, a 20th-century Brazilian writer and pioneer of the modern novel in her country; and Clarice Starling, the protagonist of the novel "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris.