Meaning & Origin
A county of Ireland.
Clare is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, the medieval English form of Clara, from the Latin clarus meaning "clear," "bright," or "famous." Saint Clare of Assisi — the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies and a close companion of Saint Francis — gave the name its most enduring spiritual presence.
With over 31,000 U.S. births recorded, Clare has been a consistent alternative to Claire, preferred by parents who love the name without the French silent E. Its single syllable carries remarkable clarity and force — a name that is luminous in the truest sense.