Clive

Clive - A very unique male name

Clive appeared on the charts for the first time in 1918 on position #1497. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Clive and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Clive? 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 Clive. The baby boy name Clive was given to 18 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2528 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 81,460 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Clive peaked in popularity 96 years ago in 1930 on position 986.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Clive, 1-5?

Clive is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Clive is currently topping the baby name charts in Missouri at position #891 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,859.

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 Clive is where you live.

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Clive origin and meaning

English — transferred surname and place name

'Cliff, slope' — from Old English clif, a cliff or steep slope, as a place name and surname

Clive began as an English place name and surname for someone who lived by a cliff or slope, and became a given name in the nineteenth century. Its American use has always been small; its image is British and slightly patrician, carried by figures in music and publishing who bear this exact name. It has risen modestly in recent years.

Attested etymology

Clive is a 5 letter name with 1 syllables.

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

Similar to Clive

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

Caleb / Colby / Cliff / Cleve / Cayleb / Calob / Colbey / Caeleb / Caliph / Cleave /

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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 Clive

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 Clive 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 Clive?

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

KLYVE · /klaɪv/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Cleve — A related short form in the data

Famous bearers

• Clive Davis — Record executive who founded Arista Records (b. 1932) Contemporary
• Clive Barker — Author and filmmaker known for Hellraiser and the Books of Blood (b. 1952) Contemporary

Style

SurnameClassic

Why parents choose it

Clive is crisp, British and underused, with credible bearers in the arts.

Worth knowing

• It can read as old-fashioned or affected to American ears