Pronunciation
Clare (rhymes with hair)
Meaning
Inspired by County Clare
Alternate spellings
Claire
Fun fact
Clare is a county in Ireland, home to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Its name is connected with clár, meaning board or plank, and a tradition about a plank bridge over the River Fergus. Claire sounds the same but is a separate French name. I'm including Clare for the Irish place connection.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Clare, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | #718 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | 4 | #747 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | 4 | #700 |
| 2019 | 5 | #621 |
| 2018 | 7 | #512 |
| 2017 | 8 | #471 |
| 2016 | 7 | #515 |
| 2015 | 7 | #532 |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 6 | #587 |
| 2012 | 3 | #907 |
| 2011 | 13 | #359 |
| 2010 | 9 | #475 |
| 2009 | 12 | #379 |
| 2008 | 15 | #323 |
| 2007 | 11 | #373 |
| 2006 | 9 | #394 |
| 2005 | 14 | #263 |
| 2004 | 11 | #304 |
| 2003 | 23 | #174 |
| 2002 | 24 | #162 |
| 2001 | 31 | #136 |
| 2000 | 38 | #112 |
| 1999 | 39 | #102 |
| 1998 | 34 | #116 |
| 1997 | 46 | #110 |
| 1996 | 54 | #99 |
| 1995 | 65 | #83 |
| 1994 | 78 | #70 |
| 1993 | 87 | #66 |
| 1992 | 75 | #87 |
| 1991 | 79 | #86 |
| 1990 | 100 | #67 |
| 1989 | 143 | #48 |
| 1988 | 124 | #59 |
| 1987 | 131 | #59 |
| 1986 | 156 | #51 |
| 1985 | 157 | #45 |
| 1984 | 136 | #64 |
| 1983 | 154 | #57 |
| 1982 | 173 | #52 |
| 1981 | 159 | #58 |
| 1980 | 171 | #58 |
| 1979 | 162 | #57 |
| 1978 | 143 | #64 |
| 1977 | 150 | #59 |
| 1976 | 138 | #64 |
| 1975 | 152 | #57 |
| 1974 | 161 | #59 |
| 1973 | 162 | #58 |
| 1972 | 103 | #81 |
| 1971 | 97 | #86 |
| 1970 | 96 | #87 |
| 1969 | 101 | #80 |
| 1968 | 98 | #74 |
| 1967 | 110 | #63 |
| 1966 | 131 | #52 |
| 1965 | 132 | #53 |
| 1964 | 115 | #55 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.