Claire
Say it: KLAIR/ˈklɛə/
GirlMeans clear, bright6 letters1 syllable
#352
in Ireland (2025)
#353 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#10
best rank (1984)
11,171
babies since 1964
Down 168
10-year rank change
Claire through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #353 |
| 2024 | 6 | #546 |
| 2023 | 11 | #335 |
| 2022 | 11 | #354 |
| 2021 | 16 | #273 |
| 2020 | 13 | #313 |
| 2019 | 16 | #284 |
| 2018 | 21 | #228 |
| 2017 | 11 | #368 |
| 2016 | 23 | #208 |
| 2015 | 30 | #185 |
| 2014 | 27 | #198 |
| 2013 | 35 | #170 |
| 2012 | 37 | #157 |
| 2011 | 34 | #170 |
| 2010 | 38 | #164 |
| 2009 | 57 | #117 |
| 2008 | 58 | #114 |
| 2007 | 42 | #144 |
| 2006 | 58 | #97 |
| 2005 | 70 | #79 |
| 2004 | 65 | #86 |
| 2003 | 84 | #61 |
| 2002 | 96 | #54 |
| 2001 | 127 | #44 |
| 2000 | 127 | #41 |
| 1999 | 118 | #39 |
| 1998 | 117 | #37 |
| 1997 | 206 | #28 |
| 1996 | 212 | #28 |
| 1995 | 241 | #22 |
| 1994 | 268 | #20 |
| 1993 | 246 | #22 |
| 1992 | 299 | #17 |
| 1991 | 349 | #16 |
| 1990 | 337 | #15 |
| 1989 | 365 | #14 |
| 1988 | 427 | #12 |
| 1987 | 451 | #10 |
| 1986 | 476 | #10 |
| 1985 | 475 | #10 |
| 1984 | 455 | #10 |
| 1983 | 418 | #15 |
| 1982 | 499 | #12 |
| 1981 | 457 | #16 |
| 1980 | 458 | #16 |
| 1979 | 369 | #24 |
| 1978 | 404 | #18 |
| 1977 | 330 | #23 |
| 1976 | 307 | #28 |
| 1975 | 251 | #32 |
| 1974 | 225 | #39 |
| 1973 | 215 | #39 |
| 1972 | 175 | #49 |
| 1971 | 155 | #57 |
| 1970 | 123 | #68 |
| 1969 | 119 | #62 |
| 1968 | 128 | #59 |
| 1967 | 94 | #74 |
| 1966 | 101 | #70 |
| 1965 | 99 | #63 |
| 1964 | 78 | #75 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Claire mean?
Clear, bright
French, the feminine of clair (clear), and a spelling of Clare.
Say it right
KLAIR
The story of Claire
Claire is a French name, the feminine form of the word clair, meaning clear or bright. In English it is also a spelling of Clare, which goes back to the Latin Clara. The best-known early bearer of that name is Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis.
The name has no link to County Clare, whose name comes from a different Irish word, though the two are easy to connect in an Irish ear.
Claire rose steadily through the 1970s and peaked in 1982, with 499 girls. It was number 10 in 1984 and stayed there for four years. It has been far less common since the 2000s, with 11 girls in 2025. It was just as popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 26 in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Claire (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Claire (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Claire | 11 | 11,171 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #26 (1998); 545 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.