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Baby names

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

Claire - due a comeback??

86 replies

RosaSkye · 30/07/2023 17:32

I keep seeing Clara popping up here, so wondered if Claire itself was due a revival?

Obviously popular in the 80s but quite pretty to my ear and I can see it on a baby

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2orangey · 18/01/2024 22:52

I'm early 40s and it's my name. I associate it very much with my 80s/90s childhood (there were 3 of us in my primary class alone, all different spellings) so I'd be surprised to meet a child with this name now. I like the name itself, the meaning and sound, it's just too middle-aged right now.

To me, it has a similar vibe to other fairly traditional sounding names of the era, Rebecca, Jessica, Jennifer, Kimberley, Rachel, Laura, Sarah. I reckon it'll be back on trend in another 30 years or so.

ArnieLinson · 18/01/2024 22:37

It is pronounced Clur where I live which is not great.

Mitsouko1919 · 18/01/2024 22:36

I love both Claire & Clare. I'm a child of the 1970s & there were lots of Claires with me through school in the 1980s & at university in the 1990s. I'm not sure it's due a comeback quite yet but that's precisely what makes it a great name for a baby born now!

GintyMcGinty · 18/01/2024 22:32

It's a lovely name. I prefer the Claire spelling.

user1492757084 · 18/01/2024 22:31

Yes.

ohididntrealise · 18/01/2024 22:27

I love Claire.

Seems like quite a "common" name but actually I've only ever known one.

Really like it.

Flatpackedboxes · 18/01/2024 18:52

Clare without an I.

Ringmasterofmyveryowncircus · 18/01/2024 18:51

Claire is such a pretty name. With a lovely meaning: clear and bright ✨

Shodan · 18/01/2024 18:32

Another mid-50s Claire here, and quietly chuffed that the name seems to be quite well-liked.

Re: the spelling- I normally tell people to chuck in all the vowels and see what happens. It usually elicits a grin, sometimes a laugh, which is nice.

KAM4 · 18/01/2024 18:11

I’m based in the US and Claire is popular here! Another name Emma is in the top 5 girls names here but I don’t hear as often for babies at home (Emily seems more common in the UK now). It’s funny! Yet my son George which is in the top 10 UK is a real old man name here and very rarely used

whyamiawakestill · 15/01/2024 23:47

As a Claire what a great thread to read. I was born in 74 and had 5 Claire's in just my class, the whole school was full of us.

With Karen, Amy, Joanne's and Vicki's

Talipesmum · 15/01/2024 23:24

Always liked it - all the Claire’s I’ve known have been great. Definitely prefer the Claire spelling.

SallyWD · 15/01/2024 23:23

I love Claire. It's very simple but elegant. Refreshing these days.

biscuitnut · 15/01/2024 22:58

I have always liked it. It’s my middle name. I think it got a bit too popular in the 70s and 80s but it will come back. All names do eventually.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 15/01/2024 22:48

I love Claire and also Sarah.

sockarefootwear · 15/01/2024 20:05

I like the name and thing it will definitely make a comeback at some point but don't think it will be for a few generations. I work with young children and my observation is that names that were very, very popular take longer to come back than those that have not been as well used. I was a child of the 70s and every class at school had at least 2 Clare/Claire's. I think the same is true of Sarah/Sara.

KirstenBlest · 15/01/2024 19:42

I prefer Clare too, but it was so popular in the 1970s I find it a bit ordinary.
It was also a bit of a filler middle name.
It sounds drab in some accents.

CheeseNPickle3 · 15/01/2024 19:07

I have a Claire. She was the only one in her primary school and there's only one other now in her secondary school. They sit next to each other for some lessons.

flutterby1 · 15/01/2024 19:07

Claire definitely with an i , the French version

ZenNudist · 15/01/2024 19:03

I'm an 80s baby. There were millions of Emma, Sarah Louise and Claire. None of these are bad names. They are pretty much classic.

Claire on its own ins a strong single syllable name. Quite Irish. Lovely really.

I reckon that if you used it there wouldn't be loads of them. It could be quite unique for the age group.

SuperFurryCat · 15/01/2024 19:01

I like it. I’ve known a few Claire’s in my life and every single one was a lovely person.

LilyLemonade · 15/01/2024 18:57

Absolutely gorgeous name, have always loved it. To me it sounds simple, pretty and timeless. No matter what spelling.

peaceinourtime · 15/01/2024 15:01

Claire/Clare is a beautiful name. I think when it’s spelt Clair it looks like chair 🙃

yikesanotherbooboo · 15/01/2024 12:43

I think it is definitely just ahead/ on the edge of the curve and it's a lovely traditional name.

Anna8089 · 14/01/2024 22:13

Don't use either name.

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