Cliff Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Cliff originates from the Old English word 'clif,' meaning steep slope. It has evolved from historical forms such as Clif and Cliffe. The name embodies traits of strength and resilience, and it does not have a biblical relevance. Cliff gained popularity in the 20th century and is currently viewed positively, often associated with well-known figures.
The name Cliff is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cliff has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Cliff' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 931st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 813th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 572nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 747th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1215th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4516th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3886th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Cliff' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cliff"
Pronunciation
/klɪf/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Cliff is derived from the Old English word 'clif,' which means a steep slope or cliff.
Meaning
steep slope
Language Evolution
Clif, Cliffe, Cliff
Historical Usage
The name Cliff gained popularity in the 20th century as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Cliffe, Clif, Clifford
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Cliff is perceived as a strong and straightforward name, often associated with resilience and ruggedness.
Famous People
Cliff Richard, Clifford Geertz, Cliff Lee
Explore More Cliff Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cliff"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cliff"
"Cliff" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 931st of 7545 | 861 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 813th of 6773 | 1,095 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 572nd of 7552 | 3,257 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 747th of 10718 | 1,928 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1215th of 16616 | 1,186 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4516th of 24088 | 302 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3886th of 23106 | 330 |
Regional Popularity of "Cliff" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
35.16% 832nd/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
51.49% 796th/1546 |
69.54% 1082nd/1556 |
50.23% 1182nd/2353 |
31.22% 483rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.74% 551st/2227 |
23.99% 583rd/2430 |
21.56% 615th/2853 |
17.48% 485th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
29.42% 864th/2937 |
21.59% 752nd/3483 |
20.44% 719th/3518 |
19.63% 794th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
40.87% 1506th/3685 |
20.72% 927th/4475 |
23.64% 1228th/5194 |
24.95% 1576th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
59.57% 4064th/6822 |
56.56% 3550th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Cliff" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cliff"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cliff" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.