Clarence

Clarence - A very unique male name

Clarence appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #20. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Clarence and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Clarence? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Clarence. The baby boy name Clarence was given to 50 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1704 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 29,326 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Clarence peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 20.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Clarence, 1-5?

Clarence is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Clarence is currently topping the baby name charts in Louisiana at position #799 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,028.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Clarence is where you live.

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Clarence origin and meaning

English — from a place and title

From Clare in Suffolk, via the dukedom of Clarence; the place name itself is from a river name, with Latin clarus, 'bright, famous,' a later association

Clarence grew from the royal dukedom — created in 1362 for a son of Edward III — into an American favourite, peaking in 1921 with over 7,000 births. It has declined for a century to rank #1704 in 2025. The 'bright' meaning often quoted is a folk association with clarus, not the name's documented path.

Attested etymology

Clarence is a 8 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Clarence, pop culture references for the name Clarence and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Clarence

We've found the following names that sound similar to Clarence, sorted by popularity.

Clarance / Clearence / Clarnce / Clearance / Clearnce / Claron /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Clarence

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Clarence a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Clarence?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KLAIR-ents · /ˈklærəns/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Clarance — Variant spelling seen in older US records.

Nicknames: Clancy

Famous bearers

• Clarence Thomas — Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court (b. 1948) Contemporary
• Clarence Clemons — Saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (1942–2011) Contemporary

Style

ClassicRoyalSurname

Why parents choose it

Parents choosing Clarence today are making a vintage-revival or family-honour pick with real historical weight.

Worth knowing

• It still reads as a grandfather name to many, and the 'bright, famous' gloss is folk etymology.