Claire
Girl name · #68 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Claire? In official American birth records, Claire has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,487 baby girls were named Claire, placing it at #68 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #49, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 516 girls born in 2025 was named Claire.
The 145-year story
Claire first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 21 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 5,216 girls were named Claire — good for #40 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.
Babies named Claire per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Claire against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Claire in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Claire is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Claire is most common
Geography matters for names, and Claire is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Claire is most common in VT (10 per 1,000), DC (5.4 per 1,000), ME (4.8 per 1,000), UT (4.8 per 1,000), MT (4.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Claire is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Claire
Statistically, parents drawn to Claire tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Callie, Sophie, Sadie, Audrey, and Genesis.
CallieSophieSadieAudreyGenesisCarolineLydiaKennedy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Claire | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,487 | #68 |
| 2024 | 3,337 | #67 |
| 2023 | 3,200 | #68 |
| 2022 | 3,380 | #66 |
| 2021 | 3,704 | #59 |
| 2020 | 3,837 | #58 |
| 2019 | 4,130 | #55 |
| 2018 | 4,406 | #50 |
| 2017 | 4,702 | #49 |
| 2016 | 5,216 | #40 |
| 2015 | 4,837 | #49 |
| 2014 | 5,015 | #44 |
| 2013 | 4,661 | #50 |
| 2012 | 4,944 | #45 |
| 2011 | 4,900 | #50 |
| 2010 | 4,917 | #53 |
| 2009 | 4,825 | #53 |
| 2008 | 4,601 | #62 |
| 2007 | 4,614 | #66 |
| 2006 | 4,013 | #86 |
| 2005 | 3,293 | #95 |
| 2004 | 3,333 | #99 |
| 2003 | 3,571 | #92 |
| 2002 | 3,406 | #95 |
| 2001 | 3,642 | #82 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Claire?
In official American birth records, the name Claire first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 21 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Claire a popular girl name?
Claire ranked #68 among girls in 2025 with 3,487 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #49.
When was the name Claire most popular?
Claire peaked in 2016, when 5,216 American girls received the name (ranked #40 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Claire?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 516 newborn American girls was named Claire. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.