Clive Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Clive is an Old English name meaning 'cliff'. It has evolved from 'Clif' in Old English to 'Clive' in Modern English. The name is associated with traits like strength due to its meaning and has gained historical significance through notable figures. It has no biblical relevance.
The name Clive is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha 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, Clive 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, 'Clive' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1389th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1226th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1653rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3206th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3101st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3131st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2098th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Clive' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Clive"
Pronunciation
/klaɪv/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Clive is derived from the Old English word 'clif', meaning 'cliff' or 'slope'. It originally referred to someone who lived near a cliff or steep bank.
Meaning
cliff
Language Evolution
Old English: Clif, Middle English: Clive, Modern English: Clive
Historical Usage
The name Clive gained popularity in the 18th century, particularly in England, partly due to the fame of figures such as Robert Clive, a British officer and colonial administrator.
Variants & Derivatives
Clivey, Clyve
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Clive is perceived as a classic and somewhat traditional name, often associated with strength and stability.
Famous People
Robert Clive, Clive Owen, Clive James
Explore More Clive Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Clive"
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 "Clive"
"Clive" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1389th of 7545 | 436 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1226th of 6773 | 577 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1653rd of 7552 | 424 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3206th of 10718 | 163 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3101st of 16616 | 293 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3131st of 24088 | 517 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2098th of 23106 | 819 |
Regional Popularity of "Clive" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
84.53% 2000th/2366 |
73.29% 837th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
49.55% 771st/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
56.50% 874th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
50.74% 1233rd/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
52.74% 1837th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
30.86% 1381st/4475 |
54.91% 2852nd/5194 |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
42.62% 2201st/5164 |
51.89% 3795th/7313 |
30.81% 2299th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
55.72% 2220th/3984 |
54.00% 2423rd/4487 |
39.93% 2724th/6822 |
29.88% 1875th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Clive" 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 "Clive"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Clive" 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.