Claire

zaramarie81

So I know it's popular. Has jumped to #53 in rankings (and maybe higher come May). But... we're 18 wks along, and finding out the sex in 2.5 weeks (causing me to suddenly ramp into "wow, we'll need to start thinking of names soon!" mode). I have this tendency to fall in and out of love with names. But some just stick for years and years - and I want a name like that! I always loved Claire/Clara growing up and named all my dolls that. And best of all, Dh loves it too (sooo hard to agree, as you all know). The popularity has put a damper on it though yet... it *has* stood the test of time for me and hubby already. Would you make it a top contender?

km3

I completely understand the frustration with "your name" being too popular.  We've been set on Lily for years but it's become so popular that we threw it out, if we have a girl.

I'd like to say if you love it, keep it on the list, but I know I'd be a hypocrite for saying it!  I think Clara is a lot less popular than Claire, and I love them both.

SarahPLiz

I like Claire, more than Clara. It is a good solid, classic name, which explains the popularity. It ages well but isn't too old sounding. And even though it is popular, I don't know that many Claires. 

zaramarie81

km - I am RIGHT where you are!! I've thrown it out (and then brought it back, repeat process ). Sigh. Love the suggestion of Clara, but sadly, it rhymes with my fn and looks/sounds very similar to DH's name. Amazing how one little letter can change things!

zaramarie81

SarahPLiz:

I like Claire, more than Clara. It is a good solid, classic name, which explains the popularity. It ages well but isn't too old sounding. And even though it is popular, I don't know that many Claires. 

Thanks, Sarah. If we go this route, maybe we'll get a bit fancy with a middle name.

ladybug122

My DD is named Clara, and it isn't very popular right now, a  lot less popular than Claire. I LOVE her name, and she gets lots of compliments on it. 

km3

I would definitely not go with Clara then.  Good luck with deciding on Claire!

 

 

Edit: because of OP's comment about it rhyming with her fn and being close to DH's name... 

SarahPLiz

zaramarie81:

SarahPLiz:

I like Claire, more than Clara. It is a good solid, classic name, which explains the popularity. It ages well but isn't too old sounding. And even though it is popular, I don't know that many Claires. 

Thanks, Sarah. If we go this route, maybe we'll get a bit fancy with a middle name.

Claire is definitely a name that can stand up to a quirky middle name, even an obscure saint name. I'm bored, so I'll go look for one for you  

SarahPLiz

Possible MN:

Anastasia

Augusta

Bridget

Celine

Delphina (also my grandmother's name)

Eugenia

Honorata (or Honora)

Hyacinth

Marcella or Marcelina

Sexburga (real saint, hopefully not Claire's mn)

Scholastica

Principia

Placide or Placidia (my great^3 grandma's name)

Modesta

Matilda

Martha 

zaramarie81

SarahPLiz:

Possible MN:

Anastasia

Augusta

Bridget

Celine

Delphina (also my grandmother's name)

Eugenia

Honorata (or Honora)

Hyacinth

Marcella or Marcelina

Sexburga (real saint, hopefully not Claire's mn)

Scholastica

Principia

Placide or Placidia (my great^3 grandma's name)

Modesta

Matilda

Martha 

Wow, thanks Sarah! These could definitely spice up Claire (Although, Sexburga is yes, too spicy lol). Love Honora, Delphina and Hyacinth (or the Spanish Jacinta). That is impressive you have a Placide/Placidia in your family history.

SarahPLiz

Yes I have a Placide that was married to a Modeste. I imagine they had a pretty tranquil household. My dad's family is Cajun, so there are lots of interesting names back there. 

zaramarie81

SarahPLiz:

Yes I have a Placide that was married to a Modeste. I imagine they had a pretty tranquil household. My dad's family is Cajun, so there are lots of interesting names back there. 

Placide and Modeste do make for quite a pair. So interesting!

kenldav

I love the name Claire. It's definitely one of the top contenders if we have another daughter someday

RClaffee

I love the name Claire. I really wanted to use it but it sounds funny with our last name. If you love the name, use it. At 53rd in the rankings, only 0.2516% of the female population will have that name. 

stacieann15

53rd isn't very high at all, in my opinion. I love Claire. If we were having a girl, she would have been Claire Josephine.

kenna_4

My DD is Clara after her GreatGreat Grandma who is 97. I thought we would call her Clare, but we don't. I like that Clara is a bit different than Claire, and we've had a lot of compliments for using an "old" name.

InlovewithJHK

Claire is one of my favorite names... I love it from Outlander

BLPL101

Claire is my favorite girl name, but now DH doesn't like it. Use it!!! It's gorgeous!

velvetskyy

I think Claire is a stronger name than Clara imo.  I haven't seen it as being super popular, and its a pretty name.

AnneEB

I would definitely pick Clara over Claire, it's such a pretty pretty name!  It makes it just that little bit different from the Claires (although Claire is pretty, too).

zaramarie81

Thanks, everyone! Perhaps Claire seems more popular to me because I know several (but none so close to us that we'd avoid using it). But your feedback helps... we'll keep it on the list!