Clara - just exactly how popular is it?

[mrsnoname]

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

I know one grown up one, pronounced Claira.

Clara the cow LOL - it does work though .
Yes, I have heard about the european baby name top lists .
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!

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.

I know of one. She is almost 3.

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 .

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.

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!

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