The Origin and Meaning of the Name Chiara

The name Chiara is the Italian variant for a woman who possesses "light and brightness." It comes from the Latin clarus, meaning 'clarity'.

Reviewed and approved by the pediatrician Marcela Alejandra Caffulli.

Written by Maria del Mar Garcia Martin

Last update: 28 April, 2023

Chiara is one of the most popular names today and causes real fervor among parents. Do you want to discover the origin and meaning of the name Chiara, the date of her saint’s day, and which celebrities are lucky enough to be called Chiara? We’ll tell you all this and much more in the following article. Don’t miss it!

Discover the origin and meaning of Chiara

Chiara is the Italian variant to allude to a woman who possesses “light and brightness” in everything she does and says. For this reason, it comes from the Latin clarus, which means “clarity.” And, logically, its English variants would be Claire or Clare.

Although it’s spelled with a “ch”, the truth is that in Italian, it’s pronounced as Kiara. This is important to keep in mind if you want to call the future baby girl of the house this way. However, if you prefer to pronounce it as Chiara, this adaptation is also possible.

History of the name Chiara

Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) is the origin of the name Chiara. She was an Italian nun canonized by the Catholic Church. She received her name because she was a faithful follower of St. Francis of Assisi. Moreover, she was recognized for being the “humble little plant of the blessed father Francis”, according to the writings collected by the Franciscan Directory. Moreover, together with him, she founded the second Franciscan order.

She’s also recognized for her numerous miracles and for being a woman whose faith moved mountains, even after her death. For this reason, she’s an inspiration of perseverance and charity.

Santoral of the name Chiara

The Santoral of Chiara is celebrated on the same dates as that of Clare. That is, it honors Clare of Assisci and, therefore, August 11 is her name day. So, if you know someone with this name, don’t miss the opportunity to congratulate her as she deserves. Also, if your little girl is born on this date, it is a good idea to name her after this saint. This way, you can celebrate the history of this great woman through your little girl.

Chiara, an emblematic name of the times

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in Spain, the average age of women named Chiara is 23.3 years old. Therefore, we can deduce that it’s a modern name that causes a furor among parents nowadays.

Moreover, the territories where it has become more popular include the city of Barcelona and the Autonomous Community of Gran Canaria. Also, it can be heard in the areas of Baleares, Castellón, Tarragona, Madrid, Alicante, Soria and Málaga with some frequency.

Variants of this precious option

This name for a girl has traveled all over the world. The most reliable proof of this fact is that there are different variants and versions of Chiara or Clara according to the different places where it’s used. Some examples are the following:

• Clair or Clarette, in French.
• Chiara or Claretta, in Italian.
• Claire, Clare, or Clarice, in English. In this case, they can be used for both boys and girls.
• Klára, in Hungarian.

Celebrities who carry the origin and meaning of Chiara

Chiara hasn’t only captivated many parents around the world. It’s also a name that has been represented by celebrities from different artistic, scientific, and cultural fields. Proof of this can be found in these figures that may also inspire you to make up your mind:

• Chiara Siracusa: Recognized for being “the voice of Malta”, she’s one of the most spectacular singers of Maltese origin.
• Chiara Hovland: Model.
• Chiara Mastroianni: Film actress.
• Chiara Ferragni: Italian fashion designer, entrepreneur, and influencer.
• Chiara Zanni: Television actress.

Chiara, a choice for a unique woman

Do you have a special connection to Italy? Maybe you have relatives there that inspire you to choose this name for the little future queen of the house. If so, we invite you to let yourself be carried away by all these facts. Your daughter will carry a spectacular option for the rest of her life.

However, if you still haven’t decided, don’t worry. At You Are Mom, we’ve prepared many more options according to the theme that you like. For example, letters of the alphabet, music, food, among others. It’s all a matter of continuing the search for the ideal name!