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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Clara - just exactly how popular is it?

39 replies

mrsnoname · 08/05/2011 11:39

I can see that it gets mentioned a lot on MN, but how many (under 5yrs) do you know?

We've shortlisted this name nearly six yrs ago and now have a chance to use it, but I'm being put off by it gaining popularity so rapidly as it is predicted here on MN.

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TheSecondComing · 09/05/2011 21:09

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Okonomiyaki · 09/05/2011 20:59

I know a baby Clara. I think it's a beautiful, elegant name.

mooloo · 09/05/2011 20:56

I have a Clara and have not come across any others under five. Its a name that has recieved many positive comments IME as not too popular but also not too unusual. go for it!

southofthethames · 09/05/2011 13:30

I don't know any Claras under 5 and it's the M25/London/Home Counties area we're in/were in. Know lots of families with toddlers, infants, newborns. Emily and Isabelle (or variants of) are the popular names among the under 5s I know. I think Clara is lovely. Also Claire, Clare. The oldest Clara I know of is 9 or 10, the rest are Claire/Clare, in their 30's. All lovely people, great personalities, kind and intelligent girls. I think it's a great choice.

robincousins · 09/05/2011 13:21

i think from what others have said you would be highly unlikely to have 2 claras in your dd's class if your in the uk . even if it became more popular it is nowhere near the popularity of jack and you'd probably be a head of the curve any way.
no matter how unpopular the name you choose is their is always the chance that there will be another in your dd's class .
clara is lovely if you love go for it .

Chicksy · 09/05/2011 13:15

I know of one. She is almost 3.

mopsyflopsy · 09/05/2011 12:01

I know a few here in Surrey. One pronounced Clair-a, the other Clara. Yes, it is very popular in Germany - I know lots of little Klara/Claras there.

Original poster
mrsnoname · 09/05/2011 09:55

Clara the cow LOL - it does work though Wink.
Yes, I have heard about the european baby name top lists Sad.
Pinkhouse - this is exactly what we're trying to avoid, her ending up as one of 3 or 4 in the class in 5 yrs time. DD1 has 3 Jacks in her class and one of them known as Jack K (after his surname) was in tears the other day and kept saying how he doesn't want to be called 'JAck the kicking K'.... and this is a little boy, I'd imagine girls are even more sensitive.
Gosh this is difficult, DD2 is a week old and we're still undecided!

OP posts:
DriverDan · 09/05/2011 08:00

I know one grown up one, pronounced Claira.

pinkhousesarebest · 08/05/2011 22:32

My daughter has three in her class, but we are in France.

iwouldgoouttonight · 08/05/2011 22:28

My great gran was Clara (pronounced Claira). I haven't heard of any babies/children called it - strange really because I think its a lovely name.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 08/05/2011 22:20

I know 2 - one aged about 3 but altho spelled Clara is pronounced Claira, the other is almost 2

higgle · 08/05/2011 22:16

It was my granny's name - she was from a very big family and I think they had run out of the usual names by the time she was born. Lovely.

ggirl · 08/05/2011 22:14

Have always loved this name-I don't know any.
Would have called dd clara but it doesn't sound right with our surname.

OnEdge · 08/05/2011 22:13

Its my middle name, very cool !

diggingintheribs · 08/05/2011 22:12

Ha - I'll have to tell him that (he hasn't lived there for over 20 years - maybe the cows have new names!!)

wasabipeanut · 08/05/2011 22:12

I have one - never met another! Although several people have told me they have great aunts called Clara.

mypersonalfavourite · 08/05/2011 22:09

It's really really popular in Germany now and is on many top 10 lists in Europe. 2010 out very late in the year I think.

diggingintheribs · 08/05/2011 21:55

I had this on my list but DH ruled it out as 'it's a common name for a cow in Germany'! I think it's pretty though (lucky cows!)

On a side note, are the 2010 stats out?

mypersonalfavourite · 08/05/2011 21:49

I'min SW London where there are millions according to mn. I only know my dd and nursery commented on how many years it's been since they had one (and this is a nursery with lots of 'London' names.

I think it didn't change in popularity much between 2008 and 2009. About 230 on the list iirc.

speakercorner · 08/05/2011 20:39

I don't know any Claras, and I love this name. It was high on my list but DH hates it.

MsChanandlerBong · 08/05/2011 18:31

I know one baby Clara, and one adult Clara. And I think it is a lovely name - and not overused at all.

I would say go for Clara seeing as you have loved that name for a while. This would then mean you can also avoid having a rhyming name with DD1, which is beneficial!

hmmSleep · 08/05/2011 18:02

I know one nearly 5 yr old. Lovely name, was on my shortlist for Dd2.

MadameCastafiore · 08/05/2011 18:00

I know one in Essex - one grown up one who's name was spelt Clara but she insisted on being called Calira - pissed me off because I always said her name right but she insisted that it was wrong!

NorkilyChallenged · 08/05/2011 17:59

I know one, am in SE England

Have to say I'm put off my favourite boy's name just now to avoid rhyming sibling names...