Pronunciation
Clare (rhymes with hair)
Meaning
Inspired by County Clare
Alternate spellings
Claire
Fun fact
County Clare brings to mind the Cliffs of Moher and the unusual limestone landscape of the Burren. Claire shares the sound but is a separate French name meaning ‘clear’ or ‘bright’.
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.
#718Rank among girl names in 20254Babies registered in 2025
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.