Clyde
Boy name · #742 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clyde against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clyde in class?
Clyde scores 59 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Clyde is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clyde is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Clydes were TX (37), CA (32), FL (20), OH (16), PA (13). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 59/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.