Clara
[ˈklɑːrə]Meaning
feminine form of the Latin Clarus, meaning "clear, bright, famous"
Background Story
Clara is the feminine form of the Latin name Clarus, which meant "clear, bright, famous". The feminine form was popularized by the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi, called Chiara in Italian, who founded the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares. As an English name it has been in use since the Middle Ages, originally in the form Clare, though the Latinate spelling Clara overtook it in the 19th century. It is also used in Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Hungarian, Icelandic, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian.
Variations
Claire, Clarissa
Related Names
Arika
A name of Japanese origin meaning 'bright' or 'intelligent'
Birta
Icelandic diminutive of Birgitta.
Cadie
Caia
Calie
A variant of Callie, probably a French form of Callie or Kaylee
Calli
Cammie
A diminutive form of the name Camilla, which means 'young ceremonial attendant' in Latin.
Camy
Carin
Variant of Karin
Carla
Feminine form of Carlo, Carlos or Carl, from Old English ceorl, 'free man'