Clare
Girl name · #924 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Clare? In official American birth records, Clare has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Clare is currently the #924 girl name in the United States — 283 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #728, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,360 girls born in 2025 was named Clare.
Babies named Clare per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Clare first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 510 girls were named Clare — good for #500 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clare against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clare in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clare is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clare will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clare is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clare is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Clare is most common in MD (0.8 per 1,000), MA (0.6 per 1,000), NJ (0.4 per 1,000), IL (0.4 per 1,000), OH (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Clare is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Clare
Statistically, parents drawn to Clare tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaycee, Micah, Carly, Carson, and Bailee.
KayceeMicahCarlyCarsonBaileeBayleeJanaeEssence
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clare | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 283 | #924 |
| 2024 | 277 | #948 |
| 2023 | 260 | #985 |
| 2022 | 257 | #1012 |
| 2021 | 329 | #837 |
| 2020 | 329 | #830 |
| 2019 | 344 | #803 |
| 2018 | 357 | #762 |
| 2017 | 315 | #867 |
| 2016 | 394 | #722 |
| 2015 | 389 | #728 |
| 2014 | 387 | #723 |
| 2013 | 377 | #727 |
| 2012 | 379 | #730 |
| 2011 | 414 | #679 |
| 2010 | 421 | #681 |
| 2009 | 405 | #711 |
| 2008 | 453 | #674 |
| 2007 | 473 | #630 |
| 2006 | 439 | #659 |
| 2005 | 412 | #674 |
| 2004 | 419 | #651 |
| 2003 | 417 | #638 |
| 2002 | 433 | #597 |
| 2001 | 460 | #562 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clare?
In official American birth records, the name Clare first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 15 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clare a popular girl name?
Clare ranked #924 among girls in 2025 with 283 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #728.
When was the name Clare most popular?
Clare peaked in 1998, when 510 American girls received the name (ranked #500 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clare?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,360 newborn American girls was named Clare. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.