Clare

Meaning: Its source is Clarensis, a Latin name meaning "One who lives near the River Clare."

Nickname For: Clarence

Variant Forms: Clair

Narrative: This name was created for an aristocratic family with holdings close to the River Clare in Ireland.

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Clair
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Meaning: Its source is a Latin expression meaning "Brilliant."

Nickname For: Clarissa

Compound Forms: Mariclare

Popularity: The name Clare ranked 586th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 796th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: Brilliance is a recurring name idea, as shown in this name, Bertha, Helen, and a form of the Chinese name Ming.

The breadth of the idea can best be understood by studying the pictogram that represents the Chinese name. It shows the sun with the moon reflecting its light, and stands not only for brightness and clarity, but also for understanding, aptitude and fame.

Arts and Music

Clare Briggs (born 1875, died 1930)
American cartoonist.
- Mr. and Mrs. (see list of Cartoonists)

Leadership

St. Clare of Assisi (born 1194, died 1253)
Italian abbess. Because of her miraculous vision of a mass being held in another part of her town, Pope Pius XII named her patron saint of television in 1958.
- Founded the Poor Clares (Clarissines) (see list of Religious Leaders)
Clare Boothe Luce (born 1903, died 1987)
American journalist, legislator and diplomat.
- Representative, R-Connecticut, 1943-47 (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)

Miscellaneous

Clare Boothe Luce (born 1903, died 1987)
American journalist, legislator and diplomat.
- 1983 recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom (see list of Presidential Medal of Freedom Winners)