Clark
Boy name · #377 in 2025 · Uniqueness 51/100
Clark ranks #377 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 837 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #372, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,151 boys born in 2025 was named Clark.
The 145-year story
Clark first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 49 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1961, when 879 boys were named Clark — good for #268 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 Clark per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clark against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clark in class?
Clark scores 51 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 Clark is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clark is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Clarks were TX (76), CA (67), OH (43), NY (39), MI (33). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Clark
Statistically, parents drawn to Clark tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mack, Clay, Mark, Wade, and Andre.
MackClayMarkWadeAndreDarwinMartinRocky
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clark | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 837 | #377 |
| 2024 | 726 | #437 |
| 2023 | 709 | #439 |
| 2022 | 729 | #427 |
| 2021 | 794 | #396 |
| 2020 | 793 | #387 |
| 2019 | 805 | #389 |
| 2018 | 855 | #376 |
| 2017 | 861 | #381 |
| 2016 | 867 | #378 |
| 2015 | 868 | #372 |
| 2014 | 814 | #383 |
| 2013 | 617 | #456 |
| 2012 | 473 | #551 |
| 2011 | 385 | #619 |
| 2010 | 335 | #695 |
| 2009 | 336 | #708 |
| 2008 | 341 | #695 |
| 2007 | 385 | #631 |
| 2006 | 323 | #692 |
| 2005 | 245 | #791 |
| 2004 | 262 | #727 |
| 2003 | 220 | #791 |
| 2002 | 211 | #809 |
| 2001 | 201 | #818 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clark a popular boy name?
Clark ranked #377 among boys in 2025 with 837 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #372.
When was the name Clark most popular?
Clark peaked in 1961, when 879 American boys received the name (ranked #268 that year). Since 1961 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clark?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,151 newborn American boys was named Clark. It scores 51/100 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.