The first name Clifford

In 2025, 5 boys were named Clifford, making it the 3,684th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 14 births (#976).

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

In 2025, 139 boys born in the United States were named Clifford, the 1,352nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1925, when 3,424 were.

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.

Nicknames for Clifford

• Cliff
• Clif

• Clifford Shull
  American physicist (1915–2001)
• Clifford D. Simak
  American writer, journalist (1904–1988)
• Natalie Clifford Barney
  American writer who hosted a literary salon at her home in Paris (1876-1972)
• Clifford Geertz
  American anthropologist, 1926–2006
• Clifford Brown
  American jazz musician (1930–1956)
• Clifford Odets
  American playwright, screenwriter, and actor (1906–1963)
• Clifford Husbands
  Barbadian judge (1926-2017)
• Clifford Edmund Bosworth
  British historian and orientalist (1928–2015)
• Clifford Jordan
  American jazz saxophone player (1931–1993)
• Clifford Hugh Douglas
  British engineer and economic theorist (1879–1952)
• Clifford Robinson
  American basketball player (1966–2020)
• Clifford Gray
  American bobsledder and actor (1892–1969)

• Tyler
• Alfred
• Blake
• Grayson
• Stanley
• Tom
• Wyatt
• Miles
• Brandon
• Maxwell
• Landon
• Bradley
• Spencer
• Wesley
• Colton
• Hugh

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Clifford mean?

Clifford means “cliff”, “ford” in English.

What is the origin of the name Clifford?

From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank.

How popular is the name Clifford?

In 2025, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Clifford, ranking 3,684th. Its peak was 1996, with 14 births.

What are nicknames for Clifford?

Common nicknames for Clifford include Cliff, Clif.

Is Clifford a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 190,268 US babies named Clifford since 1880 were boys.

When was Clifford most popular?

1925 in the United States, when 3,424 babies were named Clifford, its highest rank at 59th.

How do you pronounce Clifford?

Clifford is /ˈklɪfəɹd/, 2 syllables.

Is Clifford also a surname?

Yes. Clifford is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.