Clive
Boy name · #2394 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
Clive is currently the #2394 boy name in the United States — 57 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1815, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,579 boys born in 2025 was named Clive.
The 140-year story
Clive first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 85 boys were named Clive — good for #1788 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Clive per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clive against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clive in class?
Clive scores 72 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Clive will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clive is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clive is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Clives were CA (8), MO (5), TN (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Clive
Statistically, parents drawn to Clive tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reeve, Chayce, Caine, Mace, and Zaine.
ReeveChayceCaineMaceZaineCruzeCacheLocke
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clive | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | #2390 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2042 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2493 |
| 2021 | 69 | #2096 |
| 2020 | 55 | #2392 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2188 |
| 2018 | 82 | #1838 |
| 2017 | 67 | #2065 |
| 2016 | 85 | #1788 |
| 2015 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 56 | #2278 |
| 2012 | 67 | #2049 |
| 2011 | 53 | #2376 |
| 2010 | 57 | #2262 |
| 2009 | 56 | #2320 |
| 2008 | 49 | #2542 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2684 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 21 | #4198 |
| 2004 | 20 | #4264 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5131 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clive a popular boy name?
Clive ranked #2394 among boys in 2025 with 57 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1815.
When was the name Clive most popular?
Clive peaked in 2016, when 85 American boys received the name (ranked #1788 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clive?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,579 newborn American boys was named Clive. It scores 72/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "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.