What does Chiara mean?
Italian form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright, famous'. Popularized by the medieval Saint Clare of Assisi (Chiara d'Assisi).
What does Carlotta mean?
Carlotta is the Italian form of Charlotte, “free.”
Chiara vs Carlotta
Which is more popular?
Chiara is more popular than Carlotta today: about 228 US babies were given the name Chiara in 2025, compared with 35 named Carlotta.
| Chiara | Carlotta | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, clear | Free |
| Origin | italian | Italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | KYAH-rah | kar-LOT-tah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1951 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (228) | 1948 (255) |
| In 2025 | 228 | 35 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Chiara
Carlotta
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Chiara | Carlotta |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,203 | 220 |
| 2010s | 1,359 | 160 |
| 2000s | 1,721 | 130 |
| 1990s | 838 | 213 |
| 1980s | 427 | 366 |
| 1970s | 284 | 787 |
| 1960s | 81 | 872 |
| 1950s | 14 | 1,286 |
| 1940s | 0 | 1,225 |
| 1930s | 0 | 400 |
| 1920s | 0 | 322 |
| 1910s | 0 | 244 |
| 1900s | 0 | 87 |
| 1890s | 0 | 81 |
| 1880s | 0 | 69 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Chiara or Carlotta more popular?
Chiara is more popular than Carlotta today: about 228 US babies were given the name Chiara in 2025, compared with 35 named Carlotta.
What is the difference between Chiara and Carlotta?
Chiara means Bright, clear (italian origin), while Carlotta means Free (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Chiara or Carlotta?
In US records, Chiara first appears in 1951 and Carlotta in 1880, so Carlotta has the longer recorded history.