Clifford
Boy name · #1352 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Clifford is currently the #1352 boy name in the United States — 139 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1239, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 12,950 boys born in 2025 was named Clifford.
The 145-year story
Clifford first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 127 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1925, when 3,424 boys were named Clifford — good for #59 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 Clifford per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clifford against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clifford in class?
Clifford scores 65 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 Clifford is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clifford is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Cliffords were CA (9), IL (8), MN (8), TX (8), NY (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Clifford
Statistically, parents drawn to Clifford tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bernard, Clarence, Howard, Chester, and Leonard.
BernardClarenceHowardChesterLeonardArnoldCarmenHarold
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clifford | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 139 | #1352 |
| 2024 | 143 | #1341 |
| 2023 | 125 | #1449 |
| 2022 | 152 | #1269 |
| 2021 | 150 | #1267 |
| 2020 | 133 | #1343 |
| 2019 | 153 | #1234 |
| 2018 | 144 | #1276 |
| 2017 | 160 | #1170 |
| 2016 | 138 | #1310 |
| 2015 | 147 | #1239 |
| 2014 | 119 | #1414 |
| 2013 | 138 | #1261 |
| 2012 | 138 | #1273 |
| 2011 | 135 | #1271 |
| 2010 | 143 | #1232 |
| 2009 | 144 | #1241 |
| 2008 | 163 | #1119 |
| 2007 | 181 | #1038 |
| 2006 | 168 | #1067 |
| 2005 | 190 | #925 |
| 2004 | 215 | #827 |
| 2003 | 175 | #936 |
| 2002 | 197 | #842 |
| 2001 | 238 | #730 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clifford a popular boy name?
Clifford ranked #1352 among boys in 2025 with 139 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1239.
When was the name Clifford most popular?
Clifford peaked in 1925, when 3,424 American boys received the name (ranked #59 that year). Since 1925 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clifford?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 12,950 newborn American boys was named Clifford. It scores 65/100 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.