Clara Shen

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Clara Shen — clear, bright
237K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Clara Shen is a name that combines Latin origins. The first name Clara is a feminine given name of Latin origin. Clara or Klara is a 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. However, Clara is also a rare male name. 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. The surname Shen: Shěn is the Mandarin Hanyu pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname 沈. Shen is the 14th surname in the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames also colloquially known as the "common Chinese person" in text & sentences. Ranking 沈 as 14th during the Song dynasty was given by prominence of the family and not the numerical count of members of the family at that time. 沈 is romanised as Sum, Sem, Sam, Sham, or Shum in Cantonese; Sim in Hokkien & Teochew; Shim(심) in Hakka and in Korean; and Thẩm/Trầm in Vietnamese. The family name can also be written as "Shin" or "Sin" as well. Clara is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 237K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Clara reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Clara

Meaning: clear, bright

Latin

Clara or Klara is a 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. However, Clara is also a rare male name. 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.

Surname: Shen

Vietnamese

Shěn is the Mandarin Hanyu pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname 沈. Shen is the 14th surname in the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames also colloquially known as the "common Chinese person" in text & sentences. Ranking 沈 as 14th during the Song dynasty was given by prominence of the family and not the numerical count of members of the family at that time. 沈 is romanised as Sum, Sem, Sam, Sham, or Shum in Cantonese; Sim in Hokkien & Teochew; Shim(심) in Hakka and in Korean; and Thẩm/Trầm in Vietnamese. The family name can also be written as "Shin" or "Sin" as well.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Clara is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Clara by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Clara Shen

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Clara Shen:

9
Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

7
Soul Urge Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

11
Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Clara?
The first name Clara originates from Latin. Clara or Klara is a 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. However, Clara is also a rare male name. 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.
When was Clara most popular?
The name Clara reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Shen?
The surname Shen originates from Vietnamese. Shěn is the Mandarin Hanyu pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname 沈. Shen is the 14th surname in the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames also colloquially known as the "common Chinese person" in text & sentences. Ranking 沈 as 14th during the Song dynasty was given by prominence of the family and not the numerical count of members of the family at that time. 沈 is romanised as Sum, Sem, Sam, Sham, or Shum in Cantonese; Sim in Hokkien & Teochew; Shim(심) in Hakka and in Korean; and Thẩm/Trầm in Vietnamese. The family name can also be written as "Shin" or "Sin" as well.
What are the origins of the name Clara Shen?
The name Clara Shen combines two different traditions: the first name Clara has Latin roots, while the surname Shen originates from Vietnamese.
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