Klara
Klara was the 1804th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 1093rd; the most babies were born in 2019 (152). Over the last ten years it has moved up 32 places. More babies were named Klara in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Clara) clear, bright · Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #1,804 girls, down 44 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 112girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2019152 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,087babies recorded
What does the name Klara mean?
Klara is a spelling of Clara, pronounced the same way, so it shares Clara's meaning and origin.
Clara is the feminine of the Late Latin name Clarus, from clarus, 'clear, bright, famous'. It became widely used after Saint Clare of Assisi, the 13th-century follower of Saint Francis who founded the Poor Clares; DMNES lists her as Clara. Wikipedia notes that Clare was the usual English form in the Middle Ages and that the Latin spelling Clara became more popular in the 19th century. Claire is the French form, Chiara the Italian and Klara the German.
clārus (Latin, “clear, bright, famous”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Clare, Claire, Chiara, Klara, Clarissa.
See also: Latin names, names that mean light, names that mean fame.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Clara', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Clara', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Clara (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Klara popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,804 | 112 |
| 2020 | #1,760 | 114 |
| 2010 | #2,070 | 96 |
| 2000 | #3,142 | 44 |
| 1990 | #4,962 | 19 |
| 1980 | #8,601 | 7 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | #6,837 | 5 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #4,192 | 7 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Klara, counting every spelling?
Klara is a spelling of Clara, a name family that ranked #75 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,804 for Klara on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,720 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clara | 3,601 | #63 | 14,581 |
| Klara | 112 | #1,804 | 573 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Klara?
112 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Klara (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Klara born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 75 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Klara.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Klara?
About 2,900 people born in the US named Klara are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 7 and 21. That makes Klara mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Klara by state
How common Klara was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Illinois (3.3×). In 36 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Klara: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Klara, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Klara
What does Klara mean?
Klara is a spelling of Clara, which means “clear, bright” (Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Klara?
Klara was the 1804th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 1093rd; the most babies were born in 2019 (152). Over the last ten years it has moved up 32 places. More babies were named Klara in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Klara a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Klara in the US.
Where is Klara most popular?
In 2021–2025, Klara was most common in Illinois (0.23 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Jersey and Massachusetts.