What does the name Clive mean?

Clive is a boy name of English origin meaning “'cliff, slope', from Old English clif”.

When was the name Clive most popular?

In US Social Security records since 1890, Clive peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

What are names similar to Clive?

Names similar to Clive in origin and style include Drake, Stone, Cleve, Case, Slade.

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Clive

boy name

Origin

English

Syllables

Peak era

2010s/2020s

Today

▬ Steady

Meaning

“'cliff, slope', from Old English clif”

Popularity, 1890–2024

1890speak 2010s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Clive peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.

See popularity in Brazil

Popularity in Brazil

52 people · the #64,892 first name in Brazil · median age 40

Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022

Names that fit alongside Clive

Drake Stone Cleve Case Slade Reed

The Clive deep dive

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Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Clive truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Clive fits with your family’s names and surname.

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