The first name Clive
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈklaɪv/ 1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
A male given name transferred from the surname, popular in Britain in the mid-twentieth century.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Clive last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 9 boys. It peaked in 1997, with 20 births (#788).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Clive with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Clive at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 57 boys born in the United States were named Clive, the 2,398th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 85 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.
Famous people named Clive
39 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Clive OwenEnglish actor, born 1964
- Clive DunnBritish actor (1920–2012)
- Clive GrangerBritish economist, 1934–2009
- Clive BarkerEnglish author, film director, and visual artist (born 1952)
- Clive SinclairEnglish entrepreneur and inventor (1940–2021)
- Clive CusslerAmerican novelist (1931–2020)
- Clive BurrEnglish drummer (1957–2013)
- Clive DavisAmerican music executive (1932–2026)
- Clive BellBritish art critic (1881–1964)
- Clive StandenEnglish actor (born 1981)
- Clive AllenEnglish footballer (born 1961)
- Clive SwiftBritish actor (1936–2019)
Questions
- How popular is the name Clive?
- In 2024, 9 boys born in England and Wales were named Clive, ranking 2,443rd. Its peak was 1997, with 20 births.
- Is Clive a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 3,336 US babies named Clive since 1880 were boys.
- When was Clive most popular?
- 2016 in the United States, when 85 babies were named Clive, its highest rank at 1,791st.
- How do you pronounce Clive?
- Clive is /ˈklaɪv/, one syllable.