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Klara

♀ Girl

Pronounced KLA-a /ˈklaː.ʁa/Medium

Meaning: Clear, bright, famousMedium

In 30 seconds: Klara is the Swedish and Central European spelling of Clara, meaning 'clear, bright, famous'.
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Origin MediumSwedish, Danish, Norwegian
MeaningClear, bright, famous
U.S. rank (2024)#1854 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births108 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,973

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201918842024

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

History & Origin

Klara is a Swedish and continental form of Clara, from the Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright, famous'. It is widely used across Scandinavia and Central Europe, where the 'k' spelling is standard. English keeps the parallel forms Clara, Claire and Clare from the same Latin root.

The crisp opening consonant gives Klara a clean, bright sound that suits its meaning. The accented Klára appears in Hungarian and Czech usage among its bearers.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Klara is 'clear, bright, famous', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Klara — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

ClaraKláraKyaraClaireClare

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Klara Milch (1891–1970)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Klára Fried-Bánfalvi (1931–2009)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Klara…

Clara— The Latin-rooted form that Klara spells with a 'k'
Claire— A French form from the same 'clear, bright' root as Klara
Clare— An English form sharing Klara's Latin origin

Frequently Asked

What does the name Klara mean?

Klara is usually explained as meaning 'clear, bright, famous' and is most often linked with Swedish tradition.

How do you pronounce Klara?

It's commonly said KLA-a /ˈklaː.ʁa/.

Is Klara a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Klara is used as a girl name.

How popular is Klara?

In 2024, Klara ranked #1854 in the U.S. for girls, with 108 births recorded.