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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Clair — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Claiborne|Claira
French◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Clair

◈

KLAIR · 1 syllables

Share Clair:
Compare with another name
Girl
#4568
↑↑ Surging
Girl
#4568
Popularity score: 15
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#4371 in 2020
5yr
+207 ranks
Velocity
+207
Birth frequency
8.3 per 1,000,000 births
Boy

Outside top 1000

Last ranked #12397 in 2020

Peak: #12397 in 2020

→ Stable
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20162020

Rank #12397 · Rising since 2016

This name is given to very few babies each year — it sits outside the range shown in these charts.

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #4568 · Falling since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
French girl names
Clair

Popularity score: 15  ·  SSA Rank: #4568

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+207 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
FrenchLatinClassicUnisex1-syllableRomanticLight-meaningTimeless
Character
clear visionluminous presencetransparent honestybright intellectserene clarity
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Clairs

articulateprofessionalengagingpersonablecommunicative
STRONG
High confidence

Clair is a French unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #4568 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +207 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:—
Clair at a Glance
Meaning:Clear, bright, or famous. Derived from the Latin 'clarus,' meaning luminous or renowned, historically used as a descriptor of clarity and renown.
Language root:Latin · Old French
Peak rank:#4371 in 2020
5yr change:+207 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #4568 · Boy #—
Notable bearers
Clair George
U.S. diplomat and government official
Clair Rees
British artist and sculptor
Clair Harvey
Australian television presenter
Similar Sound
ClaireClareBlair◈FleurClair◈
Similar Style
ClaireClaraElenaIrisSiennaGrace
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Clair
GraceEmmaLilyOwen◈JamesHenryRoseAlice
You Might Also Like
Clara
Latin · #78
→ Stable
Elena
Greek · #45
→ Stable
Iris
Greek · #71
→ Stable
Sienna
Italian · #139
→ Stable
Grace
Latin · #40
→ Stable
Charlotte
French · #4
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Clair · Overview
Summary

Clair is a French unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #4568 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 29/100 ↑ Rising

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Clair scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 207 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Classic · Romantic character
Clair carries a soft, warm, gentle quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Clair is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
clair.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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