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Clive Name Meaning, Origins & History

Clive

Pronunciation: KLYV

Meaning From the cliff Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#2,398
TREND
342
Peak Years
2016, 2015, 2018
Lowest Years
1885, 1894, 1900
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Clive in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Clive

  • More than 3 thousand babies named Clive: U.S. records list 3,336 babies given the name Clive from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Clive Mean?

Clive is an English name meaning 'cliff' or 'slope.' It comes from the Old English word clif, which had those senses. The name began as a surname based on place: it referred to someone who lived at or came from a place called Clive. So its literal sense is 'dweller at the cliff or slope.' As a given name, Clive is a transferred use of that surname rather than a name from the Bible or classical myth.

Clive Name History & Origins

The Old English element clif appears in English place names, and several settlements called Clive, such as Clive in Shropshire, are recorded in the medieval period. The surname Clive developed from residence at or origin from one of these places. In the 18th century, Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive, was a British soldier and administrator in India, often called Clive of India. His career made the surname widely familiar, and the given name Clive is a later transferred use of it. The given name is found in Britain and other English-speaking countries, and the writer and scholar C. S. Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis) is a well-known bearer.

How Popular is the Name Clive?

Clive recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Its best rank was #764 in 1906.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Clive Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Clive's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Clive's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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