It’s all about the bright and beautiful things when it comes to National Clara Day, which takes place on January 4 every year. This is one of those names that puts a smile on your face. When saying it, it rolls ever so pleasantly off the tongue. As with most names, there is a wide variety of interpretations, nicknames, and popular characters connected to it, but at its core, the name conjures thoughts of its Latin ancestry and Christian background.
History of National Clara Day
The name Clara derives from Latin and means ‘bright.’ It is the feminine form of the Latin name Clarus, which was the name of several early male Christian saints; the feminine form became popular after the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi, one of Saint Francis’ followers who renounced her privileged background and founded the order of Poor Clares.
Interestingly, Clare was the most common English spelling of the name in the Middle Ages, but Clara became more popular in the 19th century. Variations include Klara in Croatian and Klára in Czech. Claras who have made a name for themselves include silent film actress Clara Bow, nurse Clara Barton, and American civil rights activist Clara Luper. Clara Schumann was a pianist who lived in the 1800s.
Clara has been a popular name for fictional characters in popular culture, including a pivotal character in the story and ballet “The Nutcracker,” Aunt Clara from “Bewitched,” a popular American television series, and Clara Oswald, who was a “Doctor Who” character. According to Social Security Administration data, Clara has recently re-entered the top 100 for the second time in 2019. According to Google search data analysis, Clara reached its peak popularity in the last five years in March 2020, and nicknames for Clara include Cee, CeeCee, Clare, and Clary.
National Clara Day timeline
American nurse, Clara Barton, starts a movement in honor of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Clara Arthur, an American suffragist, co-finds the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association.
Clara Eliot, an American economist, publishes “The Farmer's Campaign for Credit,” which is the study of fundamental issues in credit theory involving the United States’ agricultural policies.
Indonesian writer, Clara Ng, publishes “Ramuan Drama Cinta” (“Love Potion Drama”) and becomes one of the country’s most celebrated L.G.B.T.Q. writers.
National Clara Day FAQs
Is Clara a rare name?
According to Social Security Administration data, Clara has recently re-entered the top 100 for the second time in 2019. Clara was ranked in the top 100 in both 2015 and 2017.
Is Clara an old-fashioned name?
Clara is an ancient name that derives from the Latin name Clarus, which means ‘clear,’ ‘bright,’ or ‘famous.’ If you’ve been considering naming your baby girl Clare but want something a little more traditional, try the Latin spelling Clara.
When did Clara Barton join the International Red Cross
When Clara Barton traveled to Europe in search of rest in 1869, she was introduced to a broader field of service by the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. Following that, Barton read “A Memory of Solferino,” a book by Henry Dunant, the founder of the global Red Cross network.
National Clara Day Activities
Phone your friend, Clara
If you have a friend named Clara, give her a call and catch up. You can talk about your lives, what you have both been up to, and what the future has in store in terms of work and travel destinations. You can also chat about her name and ask her what it’s been like growing up as a Clara and what that means to her.
Learn more about the economy
Clara Eliot was a very famous American economist in the 1920s and a very well-respected professional woman in terms of the impact she made in her field and on the broader economy. So, this is your chance to learn more about the economy and to do so via Eliot’s work and history. You’ll learn something new and honor a famous Clara while doing so.
Get to know a Clara
Meeting new people is always a thrilling activity to do when you are alone or with a small group of people. Go out for lunch or dinner, and if you run into a Clara, introduce yourself. Who knows, you might just make a new friend or meet the love of your life. Strangers are only strangers until you get to know each other; the fun starts when you make the connection.
5 Interesting Facts About Clara Barton
She gave her own money to raise funds
She raised most of the funds for her efforts out of her pocket.
She risked her life often
She nearly died of illness in South Carolina and had to be transferred to one of her own hospitals on Hilton Head Island until she recovered.
She was an early feminist
She knew many women's rights leaders, including Susan B. Anthony, and shared her goals of promoting women's suffrage.
She had little medical experience
Before the outbreak of the war, Barton had minimal medical experience, working primarily as a clerk and as a teacher.
She was a strong yet unpopular woman
Her unpopularity stemmed not only from her gender in a government job but also from her outspoken abolitionism.
Why We Love National Clara Day
We’re honoring a trailblazer
As we celebrate the name Clara, we must also honor those who share the name. And, in the case of this particular name, we are inspired to celebrate the American nurse, Clara Barton. She was a brave, often misunderstood, and mistreated woman who made a lasting impact on nursing, medical care, and women’s rights.
We’re celebrating bright personalities
The name Clara means bright, and many people named Clara have glowing and sparkling personalities. We love that there are still people who choose to wake up in the morning and take on the day with a positive and bright approach. As a society, we have faced many challenges in the last couple of years, and people can easily get bogged down because of it. But shining examples of how to manage are the Claras of the world.
We’re inspired to name kids Clara
There have been so many influential Claras that you are spoiled for choice when it comes to the inspiration for naming a child or a family member's child. Clara is a name that has come a long way and that has been connected to many important figures, especially women who have inspired the world to work harder and be more compassionate.
National Clara Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 4 | Saturday |
| 2026 | January 4 | Sunday |
| 2027 | January 4 | Monday |
| 2028 | January 4 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | January 4 | Thursday |
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