Clifford
Boy name · #1352 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Clifford? In official American birth records, Clifford has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clifford against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clifford in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clifford is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clifford will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clifford is most common
State-level data for Clifford 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 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
How old is the name Clifford?
In official American birth records, the name Clifford first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 127 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. 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.