Clair

I’ll be honest, I’ve only ever come across this in use as an alternative spelling of Claire (i.e. a female name). In this case I really think it needs that “e” on the end. Claire is a top ten girl's name for me and has been for as long as I can remember. Clair I’m much less keen on.

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For boys, I think it’s ok. Though I’m not sure about teasing potential seeing as Claire is such an obviously female name and Clair sounds identical.

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Edited to add: I think the usage of Clair as a female name is because most people are unaware of the fact that the “e” on the end of the name is significant as it’s how French names are feminised (Louis becoming Louise is an example). Many people therefore just see omitting the “e” as a way of creating an alternative spelling as it doesn’t change the sound, hence the debate over the gender in the comments.

Americans ruined this name by deciding it is feminine, even though the female version is Claire, with an E at the end. Clair is a boys name ONLY.

When did Americans decide this was a girl's name? Because I don't see it on the popularity chart for girls. Americans have been using the proper feminine form, Claire, for girls, like everyone else, and haven't been using Clair much at all. In countries where Claire is very popular for girls (not just the US), and where Clair is almost unheard of OF COURSE they might not understand it at first glance. That doesn't make it unusable. It is also a FRENCH name, so just because some English speaking people who haven't heard of it may find it a little odd, doesn't mean the name is not ruined in its country of origin. If Americans ruined it for anybody at all, they've simply ruined it for themselves, which just happens with common and uncommon variants of the same name. I'm not an American, but you've gotta stop labeling all lack of understanding as American ignorance.

This is an absolutely outstanding name. I wish to name my first boy this. Clair is not at all feminine to me. Feminine form would be Claire and not Clair.

Looks like a Claire with the "e" chopped off.

That's because it's masculine. It's like Louis vs Louise, Alban vs Albane, René vs. Renée, Paul vs. Paule, which is just how it works in French.

I don't like Claire (on a girl), but when I discovered Clair for a boy, I loved it! Clair is romantic and handsome without being unwearable or rough. Love the music association, classical is my favourite, and it just sounds so poetic! X.

This spelling just looks terrible. Do Claire or Clare your child will seem so much more beautiful with a beautiful name like Claire/Clare.

Yes, you should use Claire or Clare FOR A GIRL. Clair is masculine and e vs no e is the difference between masculine and feminine with many French names (ex. René/Renée, Louis/Louise). Please, next time just read a little about the name before commenting!

I have a friend called "Claire", so this is kinda weird for me. I still love it though.

Clair is a feminine name to me, though I'm always most familiar with the spelling Clare. That's just the norm for me. Claire looks weird, and Clair's a bit odd, but I like it. Clare is the best spelling, in my opinion. Though the spelling also reminds me of Clair Patterson, the man who discovered the age of the Earth and studied lead poisoning. Still, the only Clair I know is a young girl. If you're picking any spelling, choose Clare. It's the simplest, classiest, and has the most character. The 'i' crowds up Claire, and the lack of an 'e' in Clair gives it an incomplete look.

NO IT'S NOT! I don't know how many times I'll have to repeat this, but Claire and Clare are feminine and Clair is masculine. Just because they sound the same to YOU doesn't reverse its history, origins and traditional intended use and transform it into a girl's name. Clair and Claire are like René and Renée and Louis and Louise, because that's how French names are typically distinguished between masculine and feminine. You can't just snap your fingers and make it untrue. The ignorance in these comments is getting on my nerves.

I quite like this name for a boy or a girl, but I mostly think of it as feminine as I played Pokemon Crystal and Fire Emblem Echoes, which both have female characters named Clair.

This is what I hate.

My middle name is Clara, named after my great grandfather named Clair. He was a pretty cool guy so I like it! It's unique for a guy to be named Clair. It's not like being named Ashley or Leslie as a guy, I think those names are WAY more feminine.

My name is Clair. Middle name is Mark. I am of the masculine persuasion. My parents met in a Botany class in college and their professor's name was Clair. A genius with plant life and a respected teacher. Took me a while to get accustomed to the fact that my name was so vastly different from everyone else's. Growing up with 5 sisters all with the first name of Mary [strong Catholic influence] made childhood a personal mix of delight and abject fear. My sisters had different middle names, so no jokes. Us kids commonly referred to each other with nicknames. Bullies used to beat each other up to get to fight me. It wasn't fighting as much as it was degrading and humiliating. A mindless show of power to gain popularity at the expense of a pretty decent kid. Needless to say, the association with the name virtually removed my student career. Quite ironic for the son of two Botanists and Biologists. The pattern of torture dipped to a low during Junior year in HS. By then, I had been growing bigger and adopting dangerous hobbies from the Seniors. Sweep to the current day. I've entertained thoughts about changing my first name to Mark, but it would not only be an insult to my parents and their college mentor, but an insult to myself for denying the originality and clarity of my name. I wouldn't have it any other way. My friends all know me as Clair and by no other name. Nothing to prove. Nothing to challenge. It's an honor. Thanks Mom, Dad,... and Clair.

This sounds like a girl's name. I'm pretty sure guys will get teased for having a girl name.

A nice nickname for Clarence or Sinclair.

I'm a guy and this is my name, same spelling. I was born in 1997 and I've only seen a really old guy with my name. It's awkward when I first meet people. They either laugh, make a weird face or don't care. I like it because there aren't many guys with the name so it doesn't hold any preconceived notions but I hate it because it gets confused for a girl's name. I've thought about changing it, but it would cause more problems than solve and it's grown on me.

ClairMati & the other Male Clair you ROCK!
& the neg naysayers - Get out more! Clair was my friends name, a VERY butt kicking Masculine Vietnam Vet & Detroit Police Undercover Vice ALL MAN MAN! This is the greatest French name besides my son's name Michel! People in the USA are so narrow minded. This is a Man's name - CLAIRE is a women's name.

I can't see this as a masculine name, especially because I played the Pokemon games and their Clair is a woman. But it does sound cute. I still prefer Claire, though.

In English, this would absolutely not work on a boy. It would be perceived as a misspelling of Claire, therefore a "girl name".

I do not like any variant of the name Clair, Claire, etc. It is too feminine for a man and to mannish for a woman. I'm a woman and this is my middle name. Clair is the official spelling on my birth certificate, but when I can I write it as Claire. My first name is Amanda and I hate that too, but it's a little better than Clair. The name Clair/Claire reminds me of a frumpy, mean weirdo teacher I once had.

This is my name and I'm a girl! I like that it's spelt a little differently than Claire or Clare because I went to school with about ten of them.

I much prefer Sinclair to this.

I absolutely cannot imagine this name on males. I've only heard of females named Clair, mostly Claire, and the name sounds feminine to me. It even sounds quite clear, literally. A very beautiful name, short, simple, but not too minimalist. It's overused and thus quite bland, but I still like it, it's elegant and sophisticated.

I love this so much more than Claire.

I've never heard of anyone with this name and definitely not any guys. If you're thinking about naming your son this then you might wanna choose a different name, otherwise he'll be picked on at school for having a girl's name. Or maybe you could spell it with a "K" that looks more guyish plus it's supposed to sound like that.