Clark
Boy name · #377 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Clark? In official American birth records, Clark has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Clark ranks #377 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 837 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #372, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,151 boys born in 2025 was named Clark.
The 145-year story
Clark first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 49 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1961, when 879 boys were named Clark — good for #268 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Clark per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clark against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clark in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clark is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Clark is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clark is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Clark is most common in UT (1.5 per 1,000), ID (1.4 per 1,000), OR (1.2 per 1,000), MN (0.9 per 1,000), WI (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Clark is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Clark
Statistically, parents drawn to Clark tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mack, Clay, Mark, Wade, and Andre.
MackClayMarkWadeAndreDarwinMartinRocky
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clark | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 837 | #377 |
| 2024 | 726 | #437 |
| 2023 | 709 | #439 |
| 2022 | 729 | #427 |
| 2021 | 794 | #396 |
| 2020 | 793 | #387 |
| 2019 | 805 | #389 |
| 2018 | 855 | #376 |
| 2017 | 861 | #381 |
| 2016 | 867 | #378 |
| 2015 | 868 | #372 |
| 2014 | 814 | #383 |
| 2013 | 617 | #456 |
| 2012 | 473 | #551 |
| 2011 | 385 | #619 |
| 2010 | 335 | #695 |
| 2009 | 336 | #708 |
| 2008 | 341 | #695 |
| 2007 | 385 | #631 |
| 2006 | 323 | #692 |
| 2005 | 245 | #791 |
| 2004 | 262 | #727 |
| 2003 | 220 | #791 |
| 2002 | 211 | #809 |
| 2001 | 201 | #818 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clark?
In official American birth records, the name Clark first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 49 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clark a popular boy name?
Clark ranked #377 among boys in 2025 with 837 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #372.
When was the name Clark most popular?
Clark peaked in 1961, when 879 American boys received the name (ranked #268 that year). Since 1961 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clark?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,151 newborn American boys was named Clark. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.