Maria Clara
/MARIACLARA/
Mary and the clear, bright one — Maria Clara is a Spanish-Filipino compound joining Mary, the Mother of God, with Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright), the name of Saint Clare of Assisi who founded the Poor Clares. It became the very image of the demure, pious Filipina through a heroine of the foundational Philippine novel, and even names a traditional dress.
Get Maria Clara's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Maria Clara:
How well does Maria Clara fit your family?
This page tells you what Maria Clara means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Maria Clara is a Christian girl name of Filipino origin, meaning “Mary and the clear, bright one — Maria Clara is a Spanish-Filipino compound joining Mary, the Mother of God, with Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright), the name of Saint Clare of Assisi who founded the Poor Clares. It became the very image of the demure, pious Filipina through a heroine of the foundational Philippine novel, and even names a traditional dress.”.
Maria Clara is a girl's name of Filipino origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Mary and the clear, bright one — Maria Clara is a Spanish-Filipino compound joining Mary, the Mother of God, with Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright), the name of Saint Clare of Assisi who founded the Poor Clares. It became the very image of the demure, pious Filipina through a heroine of the foundational Philippine novel, and even names a traditional dress." and belongs to the Light cluster — names meaning radiance, illumination, and hope.
Common among Filipino, American families, Maria Clara carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Maria Clara
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Maria Clara lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Maria Clara's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Maria Clara's saint & feast day →What does Maria Clara's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Maria Clara resonates in either tradition.
Maria Clara's destiny number is 5 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Maria Clara's full reading →
Does Maria Clara go with your family's names?
Maria Clara breaks into 1 sound: /MARIACLARA/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Maria Clara sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Maria Clara beside your family's names →
Names similar to Maria Clara
If Maria Clara resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian girl names, common in Filipino families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Light cluster
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Maria Clara — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Maria Clara
What does the name Maria Clara mean?
Maria Clara means "Mary and the clear, bright one — Maria Clara is a Spanish-Filipino compound joining Mary, the Mother of God, with Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright), the name of Saint Clare of Assisi who founded the Poor Clares. It became the very image of the demure, pious Filipina through a heroine of the foundational Philippine novel, and even names a traditional dress.." It is a girl name of Filipino origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Maria Clara a boy or girl name?
Maria Clara is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Maria Clara?
Maria Clara is of Filipino origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Filipino, American families.
Is Maria Clara a Christian name?
Yes. Maria Clara is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of Filipino origin.
What does Maria Clara mean in Filipino?
Maria Clara originates from Filipino, where it means "Mary and the clear, bright one — Maria Clara is a Spanish-Filipino compound joining Mary, the Mother of God, with Clara, from Latin clarus (clear, bright), the name of Saint Clare of Assisi who founded the Poor Clares. It became the very image of the demure, pious Filipina through a heroine of the foundational Philippine novel, and even names a traditional dress.."
What is the numerology of Maria Clara?
Maria Clara has a Pythagorean destiny number of 5 — freedom and adventurous change.
When is Maria Clara's feast day?
Maria Clara's feast day — its traditional Christian name day — is August 11.
See how Maria Clara scores for your family
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