Names › Girls' names › C › Clara

Clara

Meaning: clear, bright · Origin: Latin · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

Latin for 'clear, bright'. Nurse Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

Famous people named Clara

Clara Barton (nurse)
Clara Schumann (composer)

Nicknames

Clare, Clarrie

Variants & related names

Claire, Chiara, Klara

Clara name art

A free preview of a printable “Clara” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Clara mean?

Clara means “clear, bright”. It comes from Latin.

Is Clara a popular name?

Yes — Clara has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Clara?

Clare, Clarrie.

What are other forms of Clara?

Claire, Chiara, Klara.

Similar names

Florence · Beatrice · Julia · Natalia · Olive · Vivian

More: names starting with C · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.