Home › Baby Names Directory › Chiara

Chiara

♀ Girl

Pronounced kee-AH-rah /kiˈɑː.rɑ/High

Meaning: Bright, clear, famous; Italian form of Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright, famous)High

In 30 seconds: The Italian form of Clara meaning 'bright,' 'clear,' and 'famous.' Saint Clare of Assisi — whose Italian name was Chiara — co-founded the Order of Poor Ladies with Saint Francis, giving the name deep Franciscan spiritual roots.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighItalian, Latin

MeaningBright, clear, famous; Italian form of Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright, famous)

U.S. rank (2025)#1066 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births228 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,927

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright, famous). It became prominent in Italy and across the Catholic world through Saint Chiara of Assisi (Clare of Assisi, 1194–1253), close companion of Saint Francis.

Chiara is one of the most popular girls' names in Italy. In the U.S. it is found primarily in Italian American communities and has grown with the broader interest in Italian names. It ranked #1113 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Saint Chiara of Assisi (1194–1253) — known in English as Saint Clare — was the first woman to write her own religious rule, which governed the Order of Poor Ladies (later the Poor Clares). She was canonized just two years after her death.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Chiara — Italian/Latin etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ClaraClareKlara

Nicknames

ChiKia

Famous Bearers

★Saint Clare of Assisi (Chiara) (1194–1253)
Italian saint and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares), a close follower of Saint Francis of Assisi. Canonized in 1255.

If you like Chiara…

Clara— the English/Spanish form of the same Latin clarus root

Claire— the French form with the same bright/clear meaning

Kiara— the phonetic anglicization of Chiara

Keira— Irish name that sounds similar through the ch/k variation

Lucia— Italian feminine name with the same classical luminous quality

Explore names like Chiara

By themelatin italian three-syllable saint bright

By meaningLight

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Chiara mean?

Chiara means 'bright,' 'clear,' or 'famous,' as the Italian form of Clara, from Latin clarus.

How do you pronounce Chiara?

It's said kee-AH-rah — three syllables, stress on the second. In Italian, CH is pronounced like K.

Is Chiara a boy or girl name?

Chiara is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Chiara?

Chiara ranked #1113 for U.S. girls in 2024.