The story behind Clara
Learned borrowing from Latin clāra, feminine of clārus (“bright, shining, clear”), a post-classical name made famous by the 13th century Saint Clara (Clare) of Assisi. Doublet of Clare and Claire.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
French entry
From Italian Clara, Latin clāra. Latinate variant of Claire.
Indonesian entry
Borrowed from Italian Clara.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from Spanish Clara, from clara.
Pronunciation
US: /ˈklɛəɹə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- UK: /ˈklɑːɹə/
- US: /ˈklæɹə/
- French: /kla.ʁa/
- Indonesian: /ˈklara/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈklaɾa/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈk̠laː.ɾɐ]
Popularity
Clara ranked #63 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Clara
Carla
From German and Italian Carla. By surface analysis, Carl + -a. Borrowed from Italian Carla. Feminine form of Carlos, from Latin Carolus, of Germanic origin. Doublet of Carol,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clœlia
Feminine form of Latin Cloelius.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Comba
From Old Galician-Portuguese Coomba, from Latin Columba, from columba (“dove”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aida
Borrowed from Italian Aida, made famous by Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida, which premiered in 1871. From Italian Aida.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aída
Borrowed from Italian Aida.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alba
From Spanish Alba, ultimately from the same origin as Etymology 1 and 2.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Clara
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Clara
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length