Clarence
Boy name · #1499 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clarence? In official American birth records, Clarence has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Clarence ranks #1499 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 117 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1070, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,385 boys born in 2025 was named Clarence.
The 145-year story
Clarence first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 730 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 7,332 boys were named Clarence — good for #28 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 Clarence per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clarence against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clarence in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clarence is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clarence will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clarence is most common
State-level data for Clarence 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 Clarence
Statistically, parents drawn to Clarence tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Maurice, Chester, Clifford, Wallace, and Claude.
MauriceChesterCliffordWallaceClaudeCecilCarmenJohnnie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clarence | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 117 | #1499 |
| 2024 | 113 | #1551 |
| 2023 | 112 | #1558 |
| 2022 | 137 | #1366 |
| 2021 | 129 | #1419 |
| 2020 | 135 | #1325 |
| 2019 | 169 | #1152 |
| 2018 | 173 | #1119 |
| 2017 | 158 | #1182 |
| 2016 | 156 | #1208 |
| 2015 | 185 | #1070 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1028 |
| 2013 | 176 | #1065 |
| 2012 | 191 | #1023 |
| 2011 | 191 | #1010 |
| 2010 | 199 | #989 |
| 2009 | 193 | #1014 |
| 2008 | 218 | #932 |
| 2007 | 251 | #845 |
| 2006 | 249 | #816 |
| 2005 | 297 | #694 |
| 2004 | 250 | #744 |
| 2003 | 260 | #715 |
| 2002 | 262 | #693 |
| 2001 | 302 | #627 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clarence?
In official American birth records, the name Clarence first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 730 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clarence a popular boy name?
Clarence ranked #1499 among boys in 2025 with 117 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1070.
When was the name Clarence most popular?
Clarence peaked in 1921, when 7,332 American boys received the name (ranked #28 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clarence?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,385 newborn American boys was named Clarence. 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.