The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Clara!

Comments and insights on the name Clara: | Edit

It's a pretty name, but you often see it associated with a cow in children's literature. Just google 'Clara the Cow' to see what I mean.

However you can do this with almost any name...try Googling "Emily the cow" You will have the same results

Personal experiences with the name Clara: | Edit

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Nicknames for Clara: | Edit

Rara, Lala, Lara, Claire, Clarita, Clarabella

Meanings and history of the name Clara: | Edit

Clara comes from the Latin "clarus", (the feminine form is "clara"), meaning "famous, brilliant".

Famous real-life people named Clara: | Edit

Clara Barton, English nurse who founded the Red Cross
Clara Bow, "It Girl" of the silver screen (first "It Girl" ever). She was the leading lady in the movie "Wings", which won the very first Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. She clearly mastered the art of pantomime. She became known as the quintessential flapper. She married Rex Bell, politician, (Lieutenant Governor), and actor. She was able to overcome adversity and triumph over tragedy. Her legacy still lives on through her poignant movies.
Clara Schumann, pianist and wife of the composer Robert Schumann.

Clara in song, story & screen: | Edit

Clara is one of the lead characters in the ballet the Nutcracker.

In the movie Heidi, Heidi teaches Clara (Klara) to walk again.

Clara is a strong female character in Lonesome Dove (book and miniseries)

The kind and telepathic mother in Isabel Allende's House of the Spirits is named Clara.

Clara is the Doc's love interest in Back to the Future lll, which takes place in the old west.

This Side of Paradise: (by F. Scott Fitzgerald). Clara Page- Clara is Amory's third cousin, with whom he falls in love. She is a poor widow with two children and has led a "hurried life," but she is nevertheless charming and delightful, and everyone treats her with respect. Because of the vast "goodness" that he sees in her, and her ability to bring out a different side of his narcissistic personality, Amory proposes marriage to her. Clara brushes this off, however, and they lose touch with each other at the beginning of the war.