Clara or Klara is a female given name. It is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus which meant "clear, bright, famous". Various early male Christian saints were named Clarus; the feminine form became popular after the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), one of the followers of Saint Francis, who renounced her privileged background and founded the order of Poor Clares. Clare was the main English form of the name used in the Middle Ages, but the Latin spelling Clara became more popular in the 19th century. Glara is a related Kurdish name with a common origin, meaning "vision or brightness". People with this name Given name Clara Alm (born 1996), Swedish footballer Clara Amfo (born 1984), British broadcaster and presenter Clara Arthur (1858–1929), American suffragist Clara Ayres (1880–1917), American nurse during the First World War Clara Barton (1821–1912), pioneer American teacher, nurse and humanitarian Clara Doty Bates (1838–1895), American author Clara Nettie Bates (1876-1966), American editor, writer, clubwoman Clara Bancroft Beatley (1858-1923), American educator, lecturer, author Clara Beyers (1880–1950), American actress Clara Bindi (born 1927), Italian actress Clara Blandick (1876–1962), American actress Clara Bonde (1806–1899), Swedish courtier and royal favourite Clara Bow (1905–1965), American actress Clara Louise Burnham (1854–1927), American novelist Clara Butt (1872–1936), English contralto Clara Germana Cele, South African woman stated in 1906 to have suffered demonic possession Clara Marguerite Christian (1895–1964), first black woman to study at the University of Edinburgh Clara Chung (born 1987), Korean-American singer/guitarist also known by her stage name, Clara C Clara Rankin Coblentz (1863-1933), American social reformer Clara Eliot (1896–1976), economist Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849-1934), first female attorney on the Pacific Coast, suffrage leader, founder of the public defender movement Clara Grima (born 1971), Spanish mathematician Clara Haskil (1895–1960), Romanian classical pianist, renowned as an interpreter of the classical and early romantic repertoire Clara H. Hazelrigg (1861–1937), American author, educator and social reformer Clara Horton (1904–1976), American actress Clara Hughes (born 1972), Canadian athlete who has won medals in both the summer and winter Olympics Clara Immerwahr (1870–1915), German chemist, first wife of Fritz Haber Clara Landsberg (1873–1966), American educator Clara Lee (born 1985; real name Lee Sung-min), South Korean actress Clara Lemlich (1886–1982), union organizer, consumer activist, member of the Communist Party Clara Luper (1923–2011), American civil rights leader Clara Maniu (1842–1929), Romanian feminist Clara Morgane (born 1981), French porn star and singer Clara