Clair
Girl name · #4664 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clair? In official American birth records, Clair has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 29 baby girls were named Clair, placing it at #4664 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3346, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 62,069 girls born in 2025 was named Clair.
Babies named Clair per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Clair first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 66 girls were named Clair — good for #2058 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 Clair against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clair in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clair is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clair will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clair is most common
State-level data for Clair is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Clair
Statistically, parents drawn to Clair tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Calli, Samar, Sahar, Jorie, and Alise.
CalliSamarSaharJorieAliseColbyCarliJessy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clair | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #4661 |
| 2024 | 30 | #4560 |
| 2023 | 28 | #4746 |
| 2022 | 18 | #6464 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4964 |
| 2020 | 31 | #4358 |
| 2019 | 40 | #3718 |
| 2018 | 33 | #4237 |
| 2017 | 29 | #4695 |
| 2016 | 31 | #4531 |
| 2015 | 48 | #3346 |
| 2014 | 57 | #2969 |
| 2013 | 45 | #3465 |
| 2012 | 56 | #3006 |
| 2011 | 51 | #3222 |
| 2010 | 43 | #3624 |
| 2009 | 56 | #3047 |
| 2008 | 64 | #2802 |
| 2007 | 62 | #2890 |
| 2006 | 47 | #3414 |
| 2005 | 48 | #3212 |
| 2004 | 41 | #3566 |
| 2003 | 49 | #3043 |
| 2002 | 53 | #2819 |
| 2001 | 46 | #3046 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clair?
In official American birth records, the name Clair first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clair a popular girl name?
Clair ranked #4664 among girls in 2025 with 29 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3346.
When was the name Clair most popular?
Clair peaked in 1991, when 66 American girls received the name (ranked #2058 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clair?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 62,069 newborn American girls was named Clair. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.