Name of the day: Clara
An activist and a pioneer through and through, Clara is a guiding beacon of light. While this name sounds soft, sweet and a bit dainty even, it is far from the fact. Clara has a backbone tougher than nails with a lengthy history of strong, empowering women standing behind her ready to light a fire to the world around her.
By The Numbers
One of the most favorable classics in 2020, Clara is one of those names that has become unescapable. Currently ranking at #103, Clara’s popularity has catapulted exponentially in the last decade. In 2020 alone 2,664 girls were named Clara; nearly a record tie compared to 100 years ago in 1901 with 2,319. It’s true what they say, the names from 100 years around come back in fashion. While Clara is moments away from breaking into the top 100 today, back then she was a top 20 contender.
Clare -As-Day
Derived from the Lain name Clarus, meaning clear or bright, the feminine form was inspired by 13th century Saint Clare of Assisi. Overtime the name evolved from the Middle Ages to modern day transitioning from Clare to Clara to Claire to Cara. All of which are ranked in the top 1,000 today.
Leading Lady
Frances Clara Cleveland was the first lady of the United States from 1886-1889 and from 1893-1897 as the wife of the President Grover Cleveland. She holds the record for being the youngest first lady at the age of 21.
International Women’s Day
Clara Zetkin proposed the idea for International Women’s Day at an International Conference of Working Women located in Copenhagen in 1910. This led to the very first Women’s Day being celebrated a year later on March 19th. Over 60 years later the day was declared an official holiday in the United States celebrating annually on March 8th as a celebration of economical, political and social achievements made by women and girls worldwide. Rallying for equality and women’s rights while recognizing the significant contributions women have made in society.
Nursing Pioneer
Clarissa “Clara” Harlowe Barton was the American pioneer of nursing. Originally working as a teacher and patent clerk, Clara quickly sprung into action during the American Civil War. Trading teaching for care-taking Clara became a leading lady in nursing becoming a self-taught hospital nurse providing critical life saving care to wounded solders. She was a vital member during that time gathering necessary medical supplies to the wounded men in uniform. Known as the “Florence Nightingale of America” Clara continued her humanitarian efforts post war as the founder of the American Red Cross.
Another American nurse baring the name was also played a monumental role in nursing as we know it. Just like Barton, Clara Louise Maass was a nurse during the Spanish-American war where she provided medical aid to soldiers with infectious diseases. She later volunteered herself to be a part of a medical study during the yellow fever epidemic. She unfortunately contracted the fever in 1901, where she passed away as a result at the age of 25. Her death spared a public outrage putting an promptly end to these experiments, effective immediately.
An End To Segregation
Clara Mae Shepard Luper was a leading pioneer during the Civil Rights Movement. She staged one of the first sit-in protests of the movement taking place of August 19, 1958 in Oklahoma City. The sit-in was in protest of racial injustices and discrimination in public eatery’s around the city. Clara, a teacher at the time brought 13 of her black schoolchildren and sat at a lunch counter with their teacher demanding for food and refusing to leave until served. When the establishment refused service the students remained seated for hours as other white customers physically abused them. After the third day of protest, one employee served them food, ending the segregation at the establishment.
Save The Alamo
Texas born philanthropist, Clara Driscoll is best known for rescuing the Alamo, a famous historic building from destruction after paying a large lump sum of money out of pocket to preserve it. She described the building as “the shrine of Texas independence”.
Clara has a long history of strength, perseverance, willpower and determination that will lead her to an inspirational life. This is one name I see gaining headlines, not only by the use of the name itself but as a headline for female empowerment, making a positive difference in the world moving forward.