NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Claira

A feminine name derived from the Latin "clarus" meaning bright or clear.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Claira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Claira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.

This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Claira. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Claira ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 girls were registered as Claira.
  • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Claira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5876

2012

Births in 2012

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

6 births

Estimated living

16

2026

Meaning

What does Claira mean?

The name Claira is derived from the Latin word "clarus," which means "bright" or "clear." It's believed to have originated in the late Roman Empire, around the 4th or 5th century AD. The name was initially used in regions that were part of the Roman Empire, such as Italy, France, and Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Claira can be found in the writings of the Roman philosopher Seneca, who lived from around 4 BC to 65 AD. He mentioned a woman named Claira in one of his letters, though little is known about her.

During the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity among the noble families of Europe. One notable figure was Claira of Toul, a French noblewoman who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her piety and her support of religious orders.

In the 13th century, there was a famous Italian poet and philosopher named Claira d'Anduze, who was born around 1230 in Anduze, France. She wrote several works on theology and philosophy, which were widely read during her time.

Another historical figure with the name Claira was Claira Gambacorti, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 14th century. She was the daughter of the ruler of Pisa and is remembered for her role in the city's political affairs.

In the 16th century, there was a Spanish nun named Claira Isabella Eugenia, who lived from 1566 to 1633. She was known for her religious writings and her work in establishing convents and schools for women.

The name Claira remained popular throughout the centuries, though its popularity has waxed and waned in different regions and cultures. It continues to be used in various parts of the world, with different spellings and variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Claira over time

The chart below shows babies named Claira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Claira, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Claira
02356199620042012

Decades

Claira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Claira was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #5876 3 1
1990s #3141 13 3

Related

Names similar to Claira

FAQ

Claira: questions and answers

How popular is the name Claira in the UK right now?

In 2012, Claira was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Claira most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Claira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Claira?

A feminine name derived from the Latin "clarus" meaning bright or clear.

How many people are called Claira in the UK?

A total of 16 babies have been registered as Claira across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.