Clara

Bright, clear; also associated with the Latin sense “famous”.

Clara is a feminine name with the Latin meaning “bright” or “clear”. The same root can also mean “famous”, so the name’s sense is broader than light alone. Its open ending softens the crisp Cl- beginning, giving it an understated elegance. Saint Clare of Assisi is an important part of the name’s medieval European story. Clara therefore offers both a straightforward word meaning and a historical Christian association; either may be the part that resonates personally. In English, KLAIR-uh and KLAH-ruh are both established pronunciations. For a family using English and German, that vowel difference is more useful to discuss than the spelling: German Clara has a long first a, and Klara is an established alternative spelling.

Etymology: Clara is the feminine form of Latin Clarus, from clarus, “bright, clear, famous”.