Clinton
Boy name · #1729 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clinton? In official American birth records, Clinton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Clinton is currently the #1729 boy name in the United States — 94 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1012, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,149 boys born in 2025 was named Clinton.
The 145-year story
Clinton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 79 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1981, when 2,206 boys were named Clinton — good for #124 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 Clinton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clinton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clinton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clinton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clinton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clinton is most common
State-level data for Clinton 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 Clinton
Statistically, parents drawn to Clinton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clifton, Brenton, Clint, Cedric, and Antoine.
CliftonBrentonClintCedricAntoineCorneliusStephanCourtney
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clinton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 94 | #1728 |
| 2024 | 82 | #1921 |
| 2023 | 104 | #1650 |
| 2022 | 133 | #1393 |
| 2021 | 122 | #1469 |
| 2020 | 129 | #1368 |
| 2019 | 125 | #1407 |
| 2018 | 158 | #1195 |
| 2017 | 140 | #1293 |
| 2016 | 187 | #1055 |
| 2015 | 201 | #1012 |
| 2014 | 234 | #915 |
| 2013 | 220 | #927 |
| 2012 | 227 | #909 |
| 2011 | 221 | #912 |
| 2010 | 199 | #989 |
| 2009 | 226 | #912 |
| 2008 | 248 | #855 |
| 2007 | 291 | #756 |
| 2006 | 240 | #843 |
| 2005 | 279 | #726 |
| 2004 | 258 | #731 |
| 2003 | 252 | #726 |
| 2002 | 245 | #724 |
| 2001 | 257 | #698 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clinton?
In official American birth records, the name Clinton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 79 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clinton a popular boy name?
Clinton ranked #1729 among boys in 2025 with 94 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1012.
When was the name Clinton most popular?
Clinton peaked in 1981, when 2,206 American boys received the name (ranked #124 that year). Since 1981 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clinton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,149 newborn American boys was named Clinton. 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.