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The first name Clovis

A unisex name from French.

Pronounced /ˈkloʊvɪs/ 2 syllables Unisex

Meaning and origin

French origin

Borrowed from French Clovis, from Frankish *Hlōdowig, the same Germanic source as French Louis, Dutch Lodewijk and German Ludwig, see there for further information. Doublet of Louis and Ludwig. The New Mexican city was named after a Frankish king; the Native American site and culture were named after this city.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

Clovis last appeared in the official list in 2017, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 2008, with 4 births (#3,687).

0510 1996200020052010201520202025
12
babies named Clovis, 1996–2025
#3,996
rank in 2017
2008
peak year

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

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Clovis at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 21 boys born in the United States were named Clovis, the 4,735th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1917, when 84 were.

04590 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
3,719
babies named Clovis since 1880
#4,735
rank in 2025
1917
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.

Clovis in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

Klodvig
Finnish
ხლოდვიგი
xlodvigi
Georgian
Clodoveo
Italian
Clóvis
Portuguese
Klodvig
Swedish

Famous people named Clovis

8 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Clovis I
    First king of the Franks (c. 466-511)
  • Clovis Cornillac
    French actor and film director, born 1968
  • Clovis Fernandes
    Brazilian athlete, 1955–2015
  • Clovis Tronille
    French painter (1889-1975)
  • Clovis Hugues
    French writer, 1851–1907
  • Clóvis Beviláqua
    Brazilian jurist (1859–1944)
  • Clóvis Frainer
    Brazilian archbishop (1931–2017)
  • Chlodwig, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
    German noble (1876-1954)

More French unisex names

Questions

What does the name Clovis mean?
Borrowed from French Clovis, from Frankish *Hlōdowig, the same Germanic source as French Louis, Dutch Lodewijk and German Ludwig, see there for further information. Doublet of Louis and Ludwig. The New Mexican city was named after a Frankish king; the Native American site and…
What is the origin of the name Clovis?
Borrowed from French Clovis, from Frankish *Hlōdowig, the same Germanic source as French Louis, Dutch Lodewijk and German Ludwig, see there for further information. Doublet of Louis and Ludwig. The New Mexican city was named after a Frankish king; the Native American site and culture were named…
How popular is the name Clovis?
In 2017, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Clovis, ranking 3,996th. Its peak was 2008, with 4 births.
Is Clovis a boy's or a girl's name?
Both. Of the 3,719 US babies named Clovis since 1880, 17% were girls and 83% boys.
When was Clovis most popular?
1917 in the United States, when 84 babies were named Clovis, its highest rank at 651st.
How do you pronounce Clovis?
Clovis is /ˈkloʊvɪs/, 2 syllables.