Clifton
Boy name · #1908 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clifton? In official American birth records, Clifton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 82 baby boys were named Clifton, placing it at #1908 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1475, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,951 boys born in 2025 was named Clifton.
The 145-year story
Clifton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 38 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1975, when 1,214 boys were named Clifton — good for #186 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 Clifton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clifton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clifton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clifton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clifton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clifton is most common
State-level data for Clifton is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Clifton
Statistically, parents drawn to Clifton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clinton, Carlton, Brenton, Shannon, and Cornelius.
ClintonCarltonBrentonShannonCorneliusStantonTheronClint
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clifton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #1906 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1640 |
| 2022 | 78 | #1965 |
| 2021 | 91 | #1763 |
| 2020 | 112 | #1503 |
| 2019 | 103 | #1606 |
| 2018 | 102 | #1606 |
| 2017 | 110 | #1510 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 113 | #1475 |
| 2014 | 119 | #1414 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1483 |
| 2012 | 130 | #1314 |
| 2011 | 112 | #1459 |
| 2010 | 107 | #1517 |
| 2009 | 132 | #1314 |
| 2008 | 131 | #1325 |
| 2007 | 154 | #1152 |
| 2006 | 146 | #1154 |
| 2005 | 156 | #1062 |
| 2004 | 159 | #1029 |
| 2003 | 173 | #946 |
| 2002 | 163 | #970 |
| 2001 | 201 | #818 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clifton?
In official American birth records, the name Clifton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 38 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clifton a popular boy name?
Clifton ranked #1908 among boys in 2025 with 82 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1475.
When was the name Clifton most popular?
Clifton peaked in 1975, when 1,214 American boys received the name (ranked #186 that year). Since 1975 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clifton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,951 newborn American boys was named Clifton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.