The story behind Clare
Medieval English vernacular form of Clara, from the Latin clara, feminine of clarus (“bright, shining, clear”), a post-classical name made famous by the 13th century Saint Clara of Assisi. In Oxfordshire, from Clarora, a clay slope.
Pronunciation
US: /klɛɚ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /klɛə/
- Australia: /kleː/
- New-Zealand, without the cheer–chair merger: /kleə/
- New Zealand, cheer–chair merger: /kliə/
- Scotland: /kleɹ/
- Lancashire, fair–fur merger: /klɜː(ɹ)/
Popularity
Clare ranked #924 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Clare
Chloe
Borrowed from Ancient Greek χλόη (khlóē, “young green shoot”), an epithet of goddess Demeter. Learned borrowing from Latin Chloē. Borrowed from English Chloe.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Claire
Borrowed from French Claire, also a spelling variant of the English Clare. From Latin Clara, with transparent meaning in modern French (claire).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Claude
In use from the 16th century. Borrowed from French Claude, from Latin Claudius, the name of a Roman gens. The clan name is traditionally said to be from Latin claudus (“lame”),…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Claudie
a female given name from Latin, equivalent to English Claudia
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clélie
Borrowed from Latin Cloelia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Clare
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abílio
Perhaps from Latin abilius (“not vindictive”). Possibly related to Abelardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Clare
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
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length