Clare
A unisex given name from Latin, more often spelled Claire from the 20th century onward.
Every Clare since 1880 — 34,510 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Clare
Clare is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #924 in 2025 with 283 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 34,510 American babies have been named Clare — about 91% girls and 9% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1999, when 512 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Clare stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Clare year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 283 | #924 | — | — |
| 2024 | 277 | #949 | — | — |
| 2023 | 260 | #985 | — | — |
| 2022 | 257 | #1,012 | — | — |
| 2021 | 329 | #837 | — | — |
| 2020 | 329 | #831 | — | — |
| 2019 | 344 | #803 | — | — |
| 2018 | 357 | #763 | — | — |
| 2017 | 315 | #867 | — | — |
| 2016 | 394 | #722 | — | — |
| 2015 | 389 | #731 | — | — |
| 2014 | 387 | #723 | — | — |
| 2013 | 377 | #728 | — | — |
| 2012 | 379 | #731 | — | — |
| 2011 | 414 | #679 | — | — |
| 2010 | 421 | #681 | — | — |
| 2009 | 405 | #713 | — | — |
| 2008 | 453 | #674 | — | — |
| 2007 | 473 | #630 | — | — |
| 2006 | 439 | #659 | — | — |
| 2005 | 412 | #675 | — | — |
| 2004 | 419 | #652 | — | — |
| 2003 | 417 | #638 | — | — |
| 2002 | 433 | #597 | — | — |
| 2001 | 460 | #562 | — | — |
| 2000 | 485 | #535 | — | — |
| 1995 | 388 | #587 | — | — |
| 1990 | 338 | #657 | — | — |
| 1985 | 208 | #798 | — | — |
| 1980 | 131 | #1,078 | — | — |
| 1975 | 110 | #1,069 | 7 | #4,396 |
| 1970 | 116 | #1,052 | 7 | #3,913 |
| 1965 | 180 | #745 | 9 | #2,821 |
| 1960 | 321 | #538 | 16 | #2,052 |
| 1955 | 318 | #518 | 27 | #1,491 |
| 1950 | 265 | #496 | 33 | #1,259 |
| 1945 | 217 | #493 | 34 | #1,127 |
| 1940 | 173 | #522 | 28 | #1,278 |
| 1935 | 167 | #488 | 38 | #1,043 |
| 1930 | 231 | #445 | 59 | #855 |
| 1925 | 254 | #433 | 94 | #659 |
| 1920 | 237 | #435 | 103 | #624 |
| 1915 | 171 | #472 | 77 | #663 |
| 1910 | 94 | #407 | 18 | #713 |
| 1905 | 67 | #415 | 14 | #639 |
| 1900 | 63 | #424 | 10 | #851 |
| 1895 | 47 | #412 | 9 | #748 |
| 1890 | 35 | #431 | 5 | #1,032 |
| 1885 | 27 | #396 | 8 | #712 |
| 1880 | 15 | #435 | 8 | #694 |
Famous people named Clare
- Clare of Assisi Religious figure · 1193–1253
- Clare Hollingworth Writer · 1911–2017
- Clare Higgins Actor · b. 1955
- Clare Kramer Actor · b. 1974
- Clare Carey Actor · b. 1967
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Clare mean?
A unisex given name from Latin, more often spelled Claire from the 20th century onward.
How popular is the name Clare in 2025?
Clare ranked #924 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 283 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Clare?
34,510 babies have been named Clare in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Clare most popular?
Clare peaked in 1999, when 512 newborns received the name.
Is Clare a boy or girl name?
Clare is used for both: about 91% of babies named Clare have been girls and 9% boys.
Is the name Clare rising or falling?
Clare is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Clare?
Well-known people named Clare include Clare of Assisi (religious figure), Clare Hollingworth (writer), Clare Higgins (actor).