Clive
Boy name · #2394 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clive? In official American birth records, Clive has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
Clive is currently the #2394 boy name in the United States — 57 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1815, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,579 boys born in 2025 was named Clive.
The 140-year story
Clive first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 85 boys were named Clive — good for #1788 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Clive per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clive against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clive in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clive is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clive will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clive is most common
State-level data for Clive 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 Clive
Statistically, parents drawn to Clive tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reeve, Chayce, Caine, Mace, and Zaine.
ReeveChayceCaineMaceZaineCruzeCacheLocke
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clive | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | #2390 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2042 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2493 |
| 2021 | 69 | #2096 |
| 2020 | 55 | #2392 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2188 |
| 2018 | 82 | #1838 |
| 2017 | 67 | #2065 |
| 2016 | 85 | #1788 |
| 2015 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 56 | #2278 |
| 2012 | 67 | #2049 |
| 2011 | 53 | #2376 |
| 2010 | 57 | #2262 |
| 2009 | 56 | #2320 |
| 2008 | 49 | #2542 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2684 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 21 | #4198 |
| 2004 | 20 | #4264 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5131 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clive?
In official American birth records, the name Clive first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clive a popular boy name?
Clive ranked #2394 among boys in 2025 with 57 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1815.
When was the name Clive most popular?
Clive peaked in 2016, when 85 American boys received the name (ranked #1788 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clive?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,579 newborn American boys was named Clive. 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.