Clara vs Rachel

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Clara

Girl #78 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"famous, illustrious"

Origin: Latin

Cultural Roots

English German Italian Spanish Portuguese

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#78
Total SSA Count
3,060
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Clare, Clar

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Clara →

Rachel

Girl #246 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"ewe, female sheep"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Jewish American Christian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#246
Total SSA Count
1,285
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Rach, Rae

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Rachel →

Popularity Comparison

Clara Rank #78
Rachel Rank #246

Clara is more popular, ranked #78 vs #246 for Rachel.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Clara ___

  • Clara June
  • Clara Louise
  • Clara Mae
  • Clara Josephine
  • Clara Elise

Rachel ___

  • Rachel Grace
  • Rachel Marie
  • Rachel Ann
  • Rachel Elizabeth
  • Rachel Jean
  • Rachel Nicole

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Clara

Theodore Violet Henry Alice Felix

If you choose Rachel

Hannah Rebecca Leah Sarah Jacob

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clara or Rachel more popular?

Clara is more popular, ranked #78 compared to Rachel at #246 in the United States.

What do Clara and Rachel mean?

Clara means "famous, illustrious" (Latin origin). Rachel means "ewe, female sheep" (Hebrew origin).

Are Clara and Rachel boy or girl names?

Clara is primarily a girl name. Rachel is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Clara ← Full profile: Rachel Browse all baby names