Clyde
Boy name · #742 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Clyde? In official American birth records, Clyde has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 350 baby boys were named Clyde, placing it at #742 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #802, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,143 boys born in 2025 was named Clyde.
The 145-year story
Clyde first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 221 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 3,069 boys were named Clyde — good for #68 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 Clyde per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clyde against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clyde in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clyde is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clyde will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clyde is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clyde is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Clyde is most common in CO (0.4 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000), IN (0.3 per 1,000), OH (0.3 per 1,000), TN (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Clyde is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Clyde
Statistically, parents drawn to Clyde tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lyle, Wallace, Harry, Otis, and Cecil.
LyleWallaceHarryOtisCecilHughLeroyEugene
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clyde | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 350 | #742 |
| 2024 | 362 | #728 |
| 2023 | 368 | #721 |
| 2022 | 395 | #684 |
| 2021 | 352 | #731 |
| 2020 | 348 | #715 |
| 2019 | 299 | #779 |
| 2018 | 328 | #729 |
| 2017 | 350 | #704 |
| 2016 | 298 | #794 |
| 2015 | 288 | #802 |
| 2014 | 285 | #806 |
| 2013 | 196 | #999 |
| 2012 | 158 | #1155 |
| 2011 | 154 | #1159 |
| 2010 | 137 | #1267 |
| 2009 | 140 | #1257 |
| 2008 | 143 | #1224 |
| 2007 | 141 | #1246 |
| 2006 | 129 | #1289 |
| 2005 | 125 | #1257 |
| 2004 | 137 | #1144 |
| 2003 | 116 | #1248 |
| 2002 | 112 | #1223 |
| 2001 | 117 | #1171 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clyde?
In official American birth records, the name Clyde first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 221 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clyde a popular boy name?
Clyde ranked #742 among boys in 2025 with 350 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #802.
When was the name Clyde most popular?
Clyde peaked in 1920, when 3,069 American boys received the name (ranked #68 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clyde?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,143 newborn American boys was named Clyde. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.