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    The first name Clark

    A boy’s name from English meaning “clergyman”, “learned man”.

    Pronounced /klɑː(ɹ)k/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Clark means “clergyman”, “learned man” in English.

    From Old English clerc (“clergyman; learned man”), whence also clerk.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 38 boys were named Clark, making it the 845th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 119 births (#380).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,368
    babies named Clark, 1996–2025
    #845
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Clark with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Clark at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 837 boys born in the United States were named Clark, the 377th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1961, when 879 were.

    0450900 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    51,205
    babies named Clark since 1880
    #377
    rank in 2025
    1961
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Clark in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Κλάρκος
    Klárkos
    Greek, also Κλαρκ

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Clark

    • Clex

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Clark

    44 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Clark Gable
      American actor (1901–1960)
    • James Clark Ross
      British explorer and naval officer (1800–1862)
    • Clark Gregg
      American actor, screenwriter and director (born 1962)
    • Clark Ashton Smith
      American author (1893-1961)
    • Clark L. Hull
      American psychologist (1884–1952)
    • Clark Terry
      American swing and bebop trumpeter (1920–2015)
    • Clark Duke
      American actor, born 1985
    • Clark Johnson
      American-Canadian actor and director, born 1954
    • Clark Clifford
      American secretary of defense (1906-1998)
    • Clark Spencer
      American film producer, born 1963
    • Clark Smith
      American swimmer, born 1995
    • Clark Wissler
      American anthropologist (1870–1947)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Clark mean?
    Clark means “clergyman”, “learned man” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Clark?
    From Old English clerc (“clergyman; learned man”), whence also clerk.
    How popular is the name Clark?
    In 2025, 38 boys born in England and Wales were named Clark, ranking 845th. Its peak was 2016, with 119 births.
    What are nicknames for Clark?
    Common nicknames for Clark include Clex.
    Is Clark a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 51,205 US babies named Clark since 1880 were boys.
    When was Clark most popular?
    1961 in the United States, when 879 babies were named Clark, its highest rank at 268th.
    How do you pronounce Clark?
    Clark is /klɑː(ɹ)k/, one syllable.
    What are other spellings of Clark?
    Clarke, Clerk and Clerke.
    Is Clark also a surname?
    Yes. Clark is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.