Claire, the French form of Clara, is derived from the Late Latin word clarus, meaning "clear," "bright" or "famous." It was popularized by Saint Clare of Assisi, also known as Saint Chiara of Assisi in Spanish, but Claire is the most popular spelling in the United States today. It has been a top-600 girl's name in the U.S. every year since 1900 and a top-100 girl's name every year since 1998. Other semi-popular versions include Clare, Clair, Clarice, Clarissa and Sinclair. Some parents even prefer to spell it with a K.
