Claire Name Meaning, Origin and History

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Claire is a French-origin girl’s name meaning “clear,” “bright,” or “famous,” the French form of the Latin name Clara.
Meaning clear, bright, famous
Origin French (from Latin Clara)
Pronunciation KLAIR
Gender Girl
Related forms Clara (the direct Latin form), Clare (an alternate spelling)

Origin and history

Claire comes from the French adjective clair, meaning clear or bright, itself descended from the Latin Clara. The two names, Claire and Clara, share the exact same root and meaning, having developed through different language paths, French and direct Latin retention, into two distinct-feeling names in English use today.

Is Claire a boy or girl name?

Claire is used almost exclusively as a girl’s name.

Names similar to Claire

  • Clara (the direct Latin form, sharing the identical root and meaning)
  • Clare (an alternate spelling)

Frequently asked questions

Is Claire the same name as Clara?

They share the exact same Latin root, Clara, meaning clear or bright, having developed through different paths: Claire through French, Clara staying closer to the original Latin form.

Is Claire currently popular?

It has ranked steadily in the top 100 girls’ names in the US in recent years, though some regional naming commentary has noted it declining somewhat from an earlier peak.

Related reading

Parent hub: name meanings.