Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Chiara
GirlItalian, Latin· “bright, clear”
- Meaning
- bright, clear
- Origin
- Italian, Latin
- Pronunciation
- KYAHR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,066
- US babies 2025
- 228
- Best rank
- #1,054 (2002)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Chiara
Chiara is an Italian and Latin name that means “bright, clear”.
Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, from the Latin clarus, meaning bright or clear. Its most famous bearer is Saint Clare of Assisi, known in Italian as Chiara, who founded the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares as a companion movement to the Franciscans. That heritage has kept the name in steady use in Italy for centuries. In English it is pronounced KYAR-uh, with a hard k, which sometimes surprises first-time readers. Chiara sounds elegant and luminous, and it fits naturally beside classic names like Clara and Claire.
Popularity over time
Chiara first appears in US Social Security records in 1951. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,054 in 2002, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 228 were named Chiara. In 2025, 228 babies were named Chiara, and it ranked #1,066 nationally. That is 105% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,809 in 1980, #1,519 in 2000, #1,537 in 2010, and #1,066 in 2025. Of the 5,927 US girls named Chiara since records began, 29% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,359 babies. Since 2010, 2,562 more have been named Chiara.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Jalani, Lailani, Annelise, Nayla, and Dua.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Chiara ranked highest in Connecticut, New York, and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | #355 | 8 |
| New York | #498 | 34 |
| Florida | #520 | 35 |
| Massachusetts | #532 | 10 |
| Colorado | #598 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Chiara is usually pronounced KYAHR-uh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Chiara
A few middle names that flow with Chiara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Chiara
Similar names
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KLEHR-uh
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fran-CHEHS-kuh
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see-EHR-uh
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Sidra Girl
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Lists that include Chiara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Chiara mean?
Chiara is an Italian and Latin name that means “bright, clear”.
What is the origin of the name Chiara?
Chiara has Italian and Latin roots. Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, from the Latin clarus, meaning bright or clear.
Is Chiara a popular name?
Not especially. Chiara ranked #1,066 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Chiara a boy or girl name?
Chiara is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Chiara?
Chiara is usually pronounced KYAHR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings