Clary

At a Glance

Meaning

Traces to Latin 'clarus' (clear/bright) via the name Klara, not directly from the sage plant

Origin

English (variant of Klara, possibly a French surname)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

KLAIR-eeListen

Clary (KLAIR-ee) is an English name, a variant of Klara that may also trace to a French surname. You may see it linked to the clary sage plant and the meaning 'clear, bright', but the plant connection isn't accurate: Clary is a 19th-century variant of Klara, and both it and the surname ultimately relate to the Latin 'clarus', meaning clear.

Meaning & Origin of Clary

Meaning: Traces to Latin 'clarus' (clear/bright) via the name Klara, not directly from the sage plant.

Origin: English (variant of Klara, possibly a French surname).

A common claim: Clary comes from the clary sage plant and means 'clear, bright' Actually: The name isn't derived from the clary sage plant; it's a 19th-century variant of Klara (and possibly the French surname Clary), though both ultimately relate to the Latin root 'clarus' (clear).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Clary

Popularity of Clary

Clary peaked at #1926 in 1943, when 15 babies were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #7648 with 14 babies, so it has stayed rare across the years of U.S. Social Security data from 1915 to 2024.

Names Like Clary

These names have followed a similar path to Clary in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Woody
• Olly
• Baldemar
• Roseann
• Starlett
• Sultana

FAQ

What does the name Clary mean?

Traces to Latin ‘clarus’ (clear/bright) via the name Klara, not directly from the sage plant. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Clary?

Clary is pronounced KLAIR-ee (IPA: /klɛəɹi/).

Is Clary a popular name right now?

Clary peaked at #1926 in 1943 and is ranked #7648 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)

Make Clary Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Clary, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.