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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is Clara becoming a popular name?

42 replies

Rosehyd2 · 20/10/2017 20:23

I don't know of any in real life and it's been on my names list for a very long time but suddenly I'm seeing it everywhere.
Has it recently had a huge growth in popularity?
We wanted something short (long surname), classic, and beautiful, with a hint of unusual (ie not Emily etc- no offence to any Emilys).

I'd prefer if there weren't 3 in the same class when she's in school as I have a unique name and I've always loved it.

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Jigsisaw · 20/10/2017 20:34

It's not rare. Both my dc have a Clara in their class.

Frazzled2207 · 20/10/2017 20:35

I love it and haven’t come across any (South Manchester)

WallisFrizz · 20/10/2017 20:37

The only one I know is 2. It is beautiful, possibly increasing in popularity but nowhere near as used as Ava, Olivia, Sophia etc.

Sophronia · 20/10/2017 20:47

I think it’s going to become quite popular over the next few years.

Tinylittlehobbitfeet · 20/10/2017 20:47

I know two but I wouldn't say she would be one of three in a class...might be another one in her year group

Threeandabit · 20/10/2017 20:48

I don't know any. It is nice. I also like Carrie.

WhirlwindHugs · 20/10/2017 20:51

I think it's quite rare for any name to be 3 in a class these days. Though sometimes you get strings of similar sounding but different names.

I don't think I know a Clara, it is lovely though.

RaindropsAndSparkles · 20/10/2017 20:57

I think it's lovely. Dd had three Alice's and three Imogen's in her class. It was demographics not usage. She's 19 now.

BakedBeeeen · 20/10/2017 20:59

I think sophronia is right.
Link below to a great website for helping deciding baby names cos it tells you how popular a baby name is, and whether it is going up or down in popularity.

names.darkgreener.com/#clara

For example, I typed Clara in, and it seems that the last few years it has really shot up in popularity. Which means that in the next few years all these baby Claras are going to be starting primary school!

Jigsisaw · 20/10/2017 21:00

I do think that's true. You can pick a rare name (statistically) and then end up with your child being one of two Siúns or Fraochs because you are that type of person who chose that type of school.

stevensupersquirrel · 20/10/2017 21:41

I have a Clara. The name shot up in popularity in the 2015 ons stats (from memory it went from c. 120 to 91) but last year it only went up 3 places to 88.
I think it was the dr who effect. The character had died and the name is therefore less in people's minds in one respect, but also more likely to meet baby Claras now so it will still continue to rise gently i imagine (whilst I'd prefer it not to!).

EvilCleverDog · 20/10/2017 22:15

Blame Dr Who!

Amelia (pond)
Martha (jones)
Clara (Oswald)

The only companion that didn’t make the top 100 is poor Donna!

Readytomakechanges · 20/10/2017 23:04

I have a nearly three year old Clara. I've loved the name since reading the book Heidi as a child and always wanted to name a DD it.
I couldn't convince DH with DD1 as he thought it was too 'out there', but thank God for Dr. Who bringing it slightly more into the mainstream in time for DD2!
I don't know and have never met any young Clara's since naming DD2, although I did meet a lovely 90yo Clara. I'm in West Yorkshire.

Emilybrontescorsett · 20/10/2017 23:21

I've liked Clara for years.
I don't know any.

SuperBeagle · 21/10/2017 08:13

I know one who's about 10, but it's not popular here in Australia (not in the top 100).

I think it's beautiful, and it's the name of the main character in The Nutcracker.

Redpramlady · 21/10/2017 08:25

Really love this name
Please clarify for me I say it as Clara like Tara hard ar sound which I prefer
I've seen traditionally it's said clair a
Both lovely in their own right but is it going to be a common thing that it's pronounced differently by people?

stevensupersquirrel · 21/10/2017 08:27

I have an elderly aunt pronounced clair-a but my daughter is clar-a. Nobody has pronounced her name wrongly.

Tilapia · 21/10/2017 08:30

I love Clara. I don’t know any.

fucksakefay · 21/10/2017 08:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cousinit · 21/10/2017 08:38

I have a baby Clara but I live in New Zealand where it's not popular at all. In fact many people struggle to pronounce it correctly! I have always loved the name but probably wouldn't have chosen it if it became too popular. We decided against calling our son Oliver for this reason.

curlyLJ · 21/10/2017 08:40

My DD is a Clara, she's 3.5. I only know of one other and she's not local to me, so there are no others that I know of in my area.

My nan and great nan were both Claras (although I know my nan's name was definitely pronounced clair-a, mine is a clar-a) which is where I got the idea. I love the name, but I hope it doesn't become too popular.

ricecakeseverywhere · 21/10/2017 08:48

None here yet - I love this name

daisypond · 21/10/2017 10:03

I think Clara is much more popular than Emily! I know a few Claras but no Emilys at all where I am - London.

yaela123 · 21/10/2017 20:48

I know 6 Claras - aged 80s, 16, 14, 7, 5 and 5

But then I do know a lot of kids (teacher, ex-brownie leader, have 6DC myself) so it does seem quite rare to me (I only know one of them well)

I think it is a really lovely name!

(I'm in London btw)

BlackPepperCrab · 22/10/2017 09:43

I know quite a few in their 40s. Not in the UK though.

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