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Clare

Girl name · 3,176 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Clare: 3,176 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 185 births in 1975.

Clare is a name of Latin origin, derived from "clarus," meaning bright, clear, or famous. It arrived in Scotland as a variant of Clara, popularised through the Norman French "Claire." The most famous bearer is Saint Clare of Assisi, the 13th-century founder of the Poor Clares, whose feast day is 12 August. American writer and diplomat Clare Boothe Luce also carried the name. Place connections lead to County Clare in Ireland, which takes its name not from the saint but from the Norman de Clare family. Interestingly, in Scotland the spelling Clare has been steadily less common than the French Claire since the 1970s, though both share the same radiant meaning—a timeless choice for a daughter.

Girl 36 of 52 years

Peak year
1975185 babies
Latest (2009)
#4537 babies
Total births
3,176since 1974
5-year trend
▼ 67%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1975 · 185
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).