Clara
/ˈklɑːrə/
noun
Origin
Latin
clarus — clear, bright, famous
Overview
Meaning Now
- A female given name derived from the Latin adjective 'clarus', meaning bright, clear, or famous.
Literal older meaning
bright, clear, or illustrious
Language path
Latin → Romance languages → English
Earliest form
Clara
Earliest period
Middle Ages
Journey
The name became widespread in Europe primarily due to the fame of Saint Clare of Assisi, the founder of the Poor Clares order. Her name reflected the Latin meaning of brightness or clarity, symbolizing the light of faith.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
clarus
“clear, bright”
- Medieval Latin
Clara
“clear, bright (as a name)”
Adopted as a feminine form associated with the light of the saint.
- Late Middle English
Clara
“female given name”
Introduced via Catholic influence.
Connections
Word parts
clar-
root
clear, bright
-a
suffix
feminine singular inflection
Explore next
Related to Clara
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.