Clifton
Boy name · #1908 in 2025 · Very rare
In 2025, 82 baby boys were named Clifton, placing it at #1908 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1475, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,951 boys born in 2025 was named Clifton.
The 145-year story
Clifton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 38 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1975, when 1,214 boys were named Clifton — good for #186 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 Clifton per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clifton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clifton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clifton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clifton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clifton is most common
State-level data for Clifton 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 Clifton
Statistically, parents drawn to Clifton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clinton, Carlton, Brenton, Shannon, and Cornelius.
ClintonCarltonBrentonShannonCorneliusStantonTheronClint
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clifton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #1906 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1640 |
| 2022 | 78 | #1965 |
| 2021 | 91 | #1763 |
| 2020 | 112 | #1503 |
| 2019 | 103 | #1606 |
| 2018 | 102 | #1606 |
| 2017 | 110 | #1510 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 113 | #1475 |
| 2014 | 119 | #1414 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1483 |
| 2012 | 130 | #1314 |
| 2011 | 112 | #1459 |
| 2010 | 107 | #1517 |
| 2009 | 132 | #1314 |
| 2008 | 131 | #1325 |
| 2007 | 154 | #1152 |
| 2006 | 146 | #1154 |
| 2005 | 156 | #1062 |
| 2004 | 159 | #1029 |
| 2003 | 173 | #946 |
| 2002 | 163 | #970 |
| 2001 | 201 | #818 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton a popular boy name?
Clifton ranked #1908 among boys in 2025 with 82 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1475.
When was the name Clifton most popular?
Clifton peaked in 1975, when 1,214 American boys received the name (ranked #186 that year). Since 1975 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clifton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,951 newborn American boys was named Clifton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
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.