Clare
/klɛər/noun
A county in western Ireland and a female given name, also used as a place name in several English-speaking countries.
Did you know?Clare ultimately comes from Latin *clarus*, meaning “clear, bright, famous,” the same root behind words like *clarity* and *declare*—so the name has always meant more than it sounds like.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
clarus
“clear, bright, famous”
Old French
OF
cler
“clear, bright, famous”
Middle English
English
clere
“clear, bright, lucid”
Modern English
English
Clare
“A personal name and place name derived from the older form”
Explore more surprising origins