Clark

Clark - A very unique male name

Clark appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #329. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Clark and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Clark? 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 Clark. The baby boy name Clark was given to 811 baby boys in 2025, ranking #377 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,808 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Clark peaked in popularity 84 years ago in 1942 on position 244.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Clark, 1-5?

Clark is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Clark is currently topping the baby name charts in District of Columbia at position #126 - and is the least popular in Oklahoma at position #635.

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 Clark is where you live.

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Clark origin and meaning

English (occupational surname)

'Clerk, scribe' — originally for a literate man, a cleric or scholar

Clark began as the surname of the clerk, one of the few literate men in a medieval community. As a first name it peaked in 1961 in the era of Clark Gable, and after a long quiet spell it has been rising again with other short vintage surnames.

Attested etymology

Clark is a 5 letter name with 1 syllables.

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

Similar to Clark

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

Clarke /

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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 Clark

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 Clark 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 Clark?

1 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

KLARK · /klɑːrk/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Clarke — Surname spelling with final -e

Famous bearers

• Clark Gable — Hollywood leading man of Gone with the Wind (1901–1960) Historical
• Clark Kent — Superman's alter ego in DC Comics (Fictional, 1938) Fictional

Style

SurnameOccupationalClassicVintage revival

Why parents choose it

One syllable, tailored and retro, it fits the return of mid-century names while staying uncommon.

Worth knowing

• Clark Kent and Superman jokes are guaranteed.
• Some hear it as a surname only, or as dated to the 1960s.