Clara

From Latin, commonly associated with “clear” or “bright.”

Clara is a long-established feminine name that feels both traditional and easy to read. It is common in many European countries, including German-speaking contexts, and the spelling is straightforward. The sound is light and balanced, which often contributes to an overall “bright” impression without needing any modern styling. Etymologically, Clara is commonly linked to Latin clarus, usually glossed as “clear” or “bright.” This connection is widely cited and is one of the more direct examples among classic names. Over time the name has been adopted into multiple languages, with small pronunciation shifts but a generally stable written form. In English, you’ll often hear KLAIR-ə, while other languages may use a more open A and keep the consonants crisp. A practical tip is that the initial sound can be either “CL-” or “KL-” depending on language background; if you prefer one, you can model it once and most people will follow.

Etymology: From Latin clarus (“clear, bright”), with the name established in many European languages.